Events

Join us on Saturday, August 22 for Jarumi Fest, a martial arts event celebrating the warrior arts of the African Diaspora. Our theme is "Combat Games of the African Diaspora" and recognizes the ludic dimension of the Diasporic Arts.

We will feature three instructors who will share three dynamic arts, each reflecting a unique aspect of Diasporan combat games. Mestre Bode Cantador of Os Malandros de Mestre Touro, will teach Capoeira Angola de São Bento Grande, the Capoeira of Rio de Janeiro. LaCouir Yancey of Federação Autónoma da Capoeira Africana (FACA) will teach Capoeira de Angola. Lastly, Maestro Puente (Kamau Rashid) will teach Calinda, a stick-fighting art found throughout the Diaspora, and will highlight the Afro-Puerto Rican expression of this art.

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

Location: Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies or Northeastern Illinois University, 700 E. Oakwood Blvd, Chicago, IL 

Cost: $50

Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbHg8qhFHKwYTjP3BoktrnpI4hdLhiNbOuuJeemajXDtEWIQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Jarumi is a word from the Hausa language, which translates as "warrior." It represents a heroic figure, one who is steadfast and righteous. We seek to honor this legacy and its continuity from ancient Africa to the African Diasporan today.