Festival Taino Anakaona de Kiskeya

Hi, I am Boyanyel Mota a filmmaker, musician, producer, and activist of the ancestral traditions of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. My work focuses on Afro-indigenous communities, producing records of these communities and films referring to our worldview. I have worked as an associated researcher with the Museum of the Dominican Man (Museum del Hombre Dominicano), the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Smithsonian. An important aspect of my work has been returning the Mayowakán (ancestral drum) to the communities around the island of Kiskeya.

Regarding the Taíno tradition, I am the founder of Yukayeke Taiguago Kiskeya (territory of the spirit of the water of mother earth), a space dedicated to the diffusion and rescue of the Taíno culture, which in turn is the space that has created the Anakaona Taíno Festival of Kiskeya.

The festival is named after Anakaona, Kacike from the region of Xaragua, wife of Kacike Kaonabo of the Maguana region, Cordillera Central (San Juan de la Maguana) where this festival will be held, and was founded in August 2017, in the Batey Maguana ceremony square of the southwestern part of the island, where Areytos (Ceremonies) were held before the arrival of the Spanish in 1492. Through the Anakaona Taíno Festival we return with the Aracoeles (elders) to continue with the ancestral continuity and connection after more than 500 years of tearing down the colonial vision of extinction. In addition, through the Aracoeles our old knowledge; of medicine, agriculture, spirituality, gastronomy and the resistance of the living culture of being and staying on the island and passing on to the new generations this legacy.

After celebrating with the Aracoeles (elders) in the mountains, Guakaras (caves), and rivers purposefully raising that energy throughout the island of Kiskeya Ayiti Bohío - Dominicana-Haiti, this September from 21 to 24 we will be holding a new meeting at the Museo del Hombre Dominicano in the city of Santo Domingo, where for the first time the vision of total non-extinction enters this important museum, which will allow the population of the city, and the rest of the country, to have another non-colonial vision that in our blood, the Dominican people's blood, runs the same as the original inhabitants of the island, where we claim another new history, another new path, together with our ancestors! Jan Jan Katu (so shall it be).

Please donate to our campaign as we seek to continue holding our annual Anakaona Taíno Festival of Kiskeya. The festival will feature the work and educational workshops of artisans from different backgrounds, including ceramics, fabrics, gastronomy, music, dance, Areytos, of Taíno traditions. Additionally, academic publications related to our Taino living culture will also be composed and published.

The funding will aid in several different activities and educational workshops from the teachers, scholars, artists, community activists and members partaking in the festival. Some of these include:

-Elaboration of Casabe (traditional bread)

-Elaboration of Guayiga (Ancestral Bread)

-Traditional Ceramic.

-Cabuya fabric.

-Ceremonial body painting workshop.

-Various speakers.

-Visit to the Piedra Letrada- Conztanza Ceremonial Center.

-Transportation of cultural groups from the southwest region of the island - Ocoa - Pomier, Maguana, Azua.

As stated earlier, the festival will be held from September 21st to September 24th, honoring, as our ancestors, the elements of nature, the guey (sun) that supports with its strength the way to the restoration of our culture.

ANAKAONA Festival of Taíno Culture, is a meeting with our ancestors, an encounter with our present, an encounter with ourselves and our culture!!! Please support to make it possible.

Jan Jan Katu (That's right )

Any additional information needed, please feel free to contact me:

Boynayel Mota- Director - Cinematografo - Productor - Fotografo.

[email redacted].

www.boynayelmota.com

www.Kyskeyaandrecorsd.com

For further information related to our campaign, feel free to reference these resources: