Kofago Institute’s Annual Signature Fundraiser Joins the Teranga Conference
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The Kofago Institute is proud to announce the return of KASSOUMAII, our annual signature fundraiser, now reimagined as a featured event within the Teranga Conference. This exciting new chapter expands the reach and impact of KASSOUMAII, bringing together artists, scholars, and community members in a vibrant celebration of African and diasporic performance traditions.
This year’s KASSOUMAII performance highlights a powerful lineup of choreographic works by artists who are also researchers participating in the Teranga Conference. Together, they embody the conference’s spirit of exchange, inquiry, and cultural continuity through movement.
Featured Artists & Companies
Stephen Hill – ChoreoJoey Project
Founded in 2014, the ChoreoJoey Project is a New York City–based arts collective dedicated to blending jazz and West African dance with poetry and storytelling. Under the direction of Harlem native Stephen Hill, the company has presented work at festivals in Detroit, Miami, and across the United States.
Hill holds a B.A. in Dance from Lehman College and has trained at Peridance, Cumbe, and Alvin Ailey. His performance credits include ModArts Dance Collective, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, Sesame Carnival Flyers, and Earl Mosley’s Hearts of Men. He has also served as a guest choreographer and lecturer at both Barry University and Lehman College.
Maxine Montilus – MV Dance Project
Maxine Montilus is a Brooklyn-based Haitian-American choreographer, movement director, and educator whose work has been presented at institutions such as La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and the Ailey Citigroup Theatre. She is also a former featured choreographer of Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE’s New Traditions Showcase and a 2023 Lakou Nou Artist-in-Residence with Haiti Cultural Exchange.
In 2019, Montilus founded MV Dance Project, a company rooted in service through performance and dance education. The company’s productions include Strength in Spirit and the recent Our Bodies, No Apologies, presented in 2026 at Triskelion Arts and the BAAD!Ass Women Festival.
Abadai Zoboi
Brooklyn-born Abadai Zoboi is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and writer with extensive training in West African, Modern, Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Afro-Caribbean dance forms. Zoboi has studied at Purelements, Mark Morris Dance Center, the Five College Dance Consortium, and Brickhouse NYC.
Zoboi has performed works by renowned choreographers including Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Buddha Stretch, and David G. Lee, and recently earned a Master’s degree in Dance Education from NYU Steinhardt, along with New York State teaching certification for grades K–12.
Bakary Fall – Artistic Director, Kofago Dance Ensemble
A globally recognized artist from Dakar, Senegal, Bakary Fall brings a dynamic and deeply rooted movement vocabulary shaped by traditional and contemporary West African dance, Capoeira, and urban forms. He trained under master teacher Germaine Acogny and began his artistic career during the Third World Festival of Black Arts.
Now serving as Artistic Director of the Kofago Dance Ensemble, Fall has taught and choreographed across New York City, including at Alvin Ailey Extension, Peridance, and Queensborough Community College. His work reflects a powerful commitment to honoring ancestral knowledge while pushing contemporary expression.
Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater
Founded in 1992 by Luz F. Soliz, Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater is the longest-running Garifuna dance company in New York City. The company is dedicated to preserving and sharing Garifuna history and culture through dance, music, and storytelling.
Through performances rooted in tradition and innovation, Wabafu continues to uplift Garifuna heritage while engaging audiences nationwide. The company operates as part of the Garifuna Heritage Center for the Arts and Culture, committed to educating youth and preserving cultural authenticity.
Community Access
In partnership with the Bronx Council on the Arts, Kofago Institute is proud to offer discounted tickets for Bronx residents, ensuring that this powerful cultural experience remains accessible to the community.
Join Us
KASSOUMAII 2026 promises an evening of dynamic performance, cultural exchange, and artistic excellence—all in support of Kofago Institute’s ongoing work.
Click the link HERE for ticket information and event details. We look forward to celebrating with you.