Juneteenth with Djoli Kelen at Children's Museum of Atlanta

About this event

Atlanta's Children's Museum invites families to learn the history and cultural significance of Juneteenth through a special CMA Stage performance by Djoli Kelen, a metro Atlanta-based nonprofit African dance and drum ensemble co-founded in 2016 by artists Christan Carter-Poret, Kody Kitchens, and Shannon Byrd-Crossley. Through storytelling, traditional West African rhythms, and movement rooted in the griot tradition, the program traces the throughline from African heritage to Black American emancipation in an age-appropriate way young children can feel in their bodies. The performance complements the museum's hands-on exhibits, giving families a meaningful gateway into the holiday and a launch point for conversations about freedom, community, and cultural memory.