“Out of the gloomy past
Til now we stand at last..”
A bittersweet moment of reflection swept over the crowd as soul-stirring lyrics rang out into the vast Senegalese sky, resonating deeply in the hearts of those listening. In a powerful expression of solidarity, African Americans, members of the African diaspora, and native Senegalese came together to commemorate the day the last enslaved African Americans in Texas received word—two years late—that they had been freed from chattel slavery.
This monumental Juneteenth celebration, held in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, on Thursday, June 19, 2025, served as a catalyst event to spotlight the progressive and unrelenting efforts of the newly formed African American Association of Senegal (AAAS). The organization aims to facilitate cultural exchange and foster deeper compassion and understanding between African Americans and Senegalese people.
Observing Juneteenth in the form of a “cookout” was more than a symbolic gesture—it was a powerful homage to Black American communal traditions of eating, playing, and praying together. Now living in a country known for its exceptional hospitality—referred to in Senegal as Teranga—the association was eager to welcome our Senegalese brothers and sisters to “the cookout.”
Angela Franklin Faye, an internationally recognized visual artist, educator, entrepreneur, and long-time Senegalese resident, spoke about the significance of Juneteenth.
“In Senegal, Juneteenth can be celebrated for the next 500 years,” said Faye. “Freedom for us rings differently here because we’ve made a conscious choice to find ourselves in a new land where freedom is ours to choose.”
Founding board members Anthony Randolph, Ernisha Randolph, and Juanita Richardson, along with executive board members Trikeria Johnson, Brittanye Mackey, and Shekinah Surles, worked tirelessly in collaboration with dynamic vendors, generous sponsors, and selfless volunteers to ensure a successful event. The DJ truly understood the assignment, setting a nostalgic and celebratory tone. A bounce house, face painting, games of spades and checkers, and a delicious taste of authentic African American cuisine—courtesy of the new restaurant concept Jivin’ Chicken—made the day unforgettable.
“I’m so proud of the AAAS Team for their commitment to bridging the gap between cultures and kicking off our very first event as an organization with 152 attendees,” said Ernisha Randolph. “Anthony and I are both from Miami and were part of the team that pushed for Juneteenth to become more recognized and celebrated locally—we hosted our first festival in Wynwood. So, to see us across the world in West Africa, bringing together an excited and motivated crowd to celebrate our culture, was incredibly fulfilling. The icing on the cake was seeing the Senegalese community embracing our culture and celebrating with us. It’s a reminder that the so-called diaspora wars are mostly online. In real life, there’s far more unity than people realize.”
Moving forward, the African American Association of Senegal plans to continue using events and initiatives to “create opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, mutual support, and successful reintegration” into Senegalese society, as stated in the organization’s mission.
“Book your flights for next year’s Juneteenth Cookout in Senegal,” said Anthony Randolph. “This year made it clear that it’s the place to be for the entire diaspora—but especially for Black Americans who want to experience the full-circle moment of celebrating Juneteenth on the Continent.”
Senegalese attendee and travel agent Abdoulahad Fall echoed the sentiment.
“I think it’s a requirement for us, as Africans born on the Continent, to celebrate this day of independence with our African American brothers and sisters,” shared Fall. “As a Senegalese, I love it! If I were President of Senegal, I’d give out free citizenships to African Americans. When I hear about the injustices they face in America, I get angry—I want to snatch all of them and bring them home. I truly feel African Americans need to come home to experience real freedom. We need them home.”
Although it is currently the rainy season in this peaceful West African country, the sun shone brightly throughout the celebration—a beautiful reminder that our darkest days are behind us and that we can look toward a brighter future in the land we were once forced to forget but have now chosen to remember.
“Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won”
___________
This is a Hy-Lo News special Report.
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Looking to connect while in Senegal!