Founded in 1992, ADACI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational, cultural and spiritual organization based in Washington, DC​

​Our purpose is to institutionalize the commemoration of the millions of African ancestors- men, women and children, who perished during the Middle Passage – the Maafa, as well as those who survived. We do this through the observance of ceremonies and artistic, educational, and cultural activities. We acknowledge our ancestors in a progressive way through annual commemorations which include: conferences/empowerment workshops, academic/educational lectures and presentations, film festivals, senior citizens’ cultural festivals, and artistic /cultural presentations.

As an educational, cultural and spiritual organization, ADACI creates innovative programs using the arts and education as powerful tools for transformation and spiritual development.

Meet ADACI Advisors and Founding Members

ADACI’S PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

ADACI’s Annual International Commemoration which takes place in June, recognizes the millions of men, women and children who perished during the trans-Atlantic slave trade (“the Maafa”), and those who survived.

ADACI’s Educational Forums examine the implications of enslavement, its aftermath, and its effects on the African family. Forum participants have included such scholars as Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Tony Martin, Dr. Jacob Carruthers, Dr. Joseph Harris, Dr. Asa Hilliard, Dr. Amos Wilson, C.R. Gibbs, Tony Browder, Dr. Acklyn Lynch, Dr. Runoko Rashidi, Professor Paulette Pennington Jones, Dr. Sterling Stuckey, Dr. Lisa Aubrey, Dr. Kevin Washington, and Professor Haile Gerima and his wife, filmmaker Shirikiana Gerima.

ADACI’s Pan-African Cultural Celebrations commemorate African Ancestors for their artistic and cultural contributions.

ADACI’s Youth Institute provides opportunities for youth development and empowerment.

ADACI NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS

ADACI has been invited to speak at numerous national and international conferences, special meetings, programs and activities that include:

National

  • Transforming Public History: From Charleston to the Atlantic World, The College of Charleston, South Carolina
  • Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African Art Annual Kwanzaa Program; and ADACI Annual International Commemoration, Washington, DC
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Slave Route Project, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
  • African Heritage Studies Association, Annual Meeting, Howard University, Washington, DC
  • 400 Year Commemoration of Africans Arrival in America, the African American Civil War Museum, Washington, DC
  • Let’s Talk: International Day of Drumming and Healing – a special initiative of the 400 Years of African American History Commission that was established by Congress in observance of the 400 Commemoration
  • Power Talk Annual Conference

International

  • 100 Years International Commemoration for Zumbi Dos Palmares, Brazil
  • World Festival of Black Arts (FESMAN), Member of Presidential Delegation, Senegal
  • Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
  • “400 Years of Memory and Belonging in Global Africa, ” Year of Return, Ghana 
  • Accompong Maroon Community, Jamaica

ADACI’S ARTISTICALLY CREATED SACRED SPACE & COMMEMORATION MEMORIALS (ALTARS)

A central part of ADACI’s tradition is the creation of ancestral/commemorative altars which are artistically created sacred spaces and serve as memorials to the ancestors. These sacred memorials present a more cultural, spiritual and contemplative environment by which one accesses the power of the ancestors. ADACI has been commissioned to create commemoration altars for: Smithsonian National Museum of African Art; National Council of Negro Women; Dr. Ron Walters; the National Association of Black Psychiatrists, African Heritage Studies Association; Universal Negro Improvement Association – African Communities League (UNIA-ACL); KanKouran West African Dance Company; and the Washington, DC Kwanzaa Planning Committee.

ADACI INTERNATIONAL CHAPTERS

ADACI has four international chapters: ADACI-Senegal (est. 1993); ADACI-Nigeria (est. 2004); ADACI-Brazil (est. 2014); and ADACI Cameroon (est. 2019).  In addition, ADACI has established relationships with grassroots organizations in Benin, Cuba, Ghana, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago.

ICCAAMP

ADACI is a founding member of the International Coalition to Commemorate the African Ancestors of the Middle Passage (ICCAAMP) 
http://remembertheancestors.com