Mother Libation

The United Nations’ (UN) General Assembly declared the year 2011 to be the International Year for People of African Descent. Conceived by Carol Marie Webster in Celebration of 2011 Black History Month Mother Libation was an evening of original stories about mothers and grandmothers of Africa and the African Diaspora.

Offering journeys of joy, laughter, struggles, and triumphs the personal histories of women who though their extraordinarily ordinary lives and life philosophies fortified families and communities.  Contributing writers and performers were  Ameena Al-Rasheed, Ronald Cummings, Nalini Mohabir, Shirley Anne Tate and Carol Marie Webster.   Stories from the Sudan, Jamaica, New York City, Florida, Trinidad, Canada, and the United Kingdom were shared.  Mother Libation was performed at Stage@Leeds at the University of Leeds on 3 October 2011.

Mother Libation’s Artist-Audience discussion session was an essential component of the evening’s experience.  For more than thirty minutes audience members shared their own stories of mothers and grandmothers who constructively troubled and inspired them.