named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Archival Recordings and Re-releases
Digitization, remastering, and distribution of historic Makandal albums such as "Èzili" and "Prepare"
Call the Drum Spirit
Annual concert series honoring master drummers and preserving traditional Haitian drumming
Educational Workshops and Classes
Instruction in Afro-Haitian music, dance, and Vodou traditions for students and cultural institutions
Vodou Jazz Performances
Live music and dance events celebrating Vodou jazz, including tributes to Frisner Augustin and reimagined archival compositions
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 2 activities
- Produce and present cultural performances and theatrical productionsCreates and stages live performances and theatrical works rooted in Haitian folk narratives and traditions, including the production "The Drum and the Seed," and participates in public events such as the unveiling of the Newkirk Avenue–Little Haiti subway stop and interactive memorials for victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Promote and preserve Afro-Haitian music and dance through performances and educational programsOffers workshops, classes, residencies, lecture-demonstrations, and performances in schools, museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to educate the public about Afro-Haitian music and dance, challenge stereotypes, and promote cultural healing. Programs are delivered in New York City and beyond, including through partnerships with organizations such as Carnegie Hall, City Lore, and the Brooklyn Arts Council.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Archive and digitize Haitian cultural heritage materialsOperates the Frisner Augustin Memorial Archive, curating and digitizing analog recordings, photographs, and documents related to Master Drummer Frisner Augustin and other Haitian diaspora artists. Includes the publication of a blog series, 'Tales from the Archive,' and plans to expand the archive to include other Haitian performing artists.
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Musicological Research and Scholarly Editions 1 activity
- Conduct research and documentation of Afro-Haitian music traditionsEngages in systematic research, documentation, and presentation of Afro-Haitian music as part of its cultural preservation mission, supporting educational and archival programming.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Honor and celebrate contributions of Haitian artistsOrganizes tribute events and public celebrations for influential Haitian musicians, such as Jacques Fortère, including benefit concerts, certificate presentations, and the creation of dedicated digital content like YouTube playlists to honor their legacies.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host annual memorial concerts and cultural festivalsOrganizes and presents annual Frisner Augustin Memorial Drum Festival concerts in Brooklyn and Manhattan, including a ten-year memorial event in 2022, featuring live Afro-Haitian drumming and community participation.
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Disaster Relief and Recovery Services 1 activity
- Support disaster and poverty relief in HaitiProvides emergency relief such as housing materials, food, medical supplies, and construction labor to families affected by natural disasters in Haiti, including in Fond-des-Blancs after the 2010 earthquake, and raises funds through the Artist Relief Fund for ongoing poverty and disaster relief efforts.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Provide research and consultancy services in Haitian studiesOffers research consultancies and related services in Haitian cultural studies, including academic event organization, documentation, grant writing assistance, editorial services, and website consulting for institutions and scholars.
- Remaster, re-release, and distribute archival Haitian music recordingsRemasters and re-releases historic Afro-Haitian music recordings, including albums such as "Èzili," "Prepare," "Route de Frères," and "The Intimate Touch, From Frisner with Love," and releases previously unreleased compositions such as "Vodou Jazz" as digital singles available for streaming and download.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$32K
Contributions & grants$13K42%
Program service revenue$18K58%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$18K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$29K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$29K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +84.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 1
- Lois Wilcken — Executive Director
relationships · 40
Who they work with
- Bohio Music Partner — Collaborated on the Banbòch Gede event with live music performance
- Borough President of Brooklyn Funder — Funded Makandal's educational programs
- Brooklyn Arts Council Partner — Administers the Statewide Community Regrants Program funding for the production.
- Brooklyn Arts Council Partner — Receives education programs from Makandal
- Brooklyn Arts Council Partner — Sponsored the concert through the Greater New York Arts Development Fund administered by BAC.
- Brooklyn College CUNY Partner — Potential future host for Makandal's revived Tanbou weekly drum workshop
- CUNY Haitian Studies Institute Partner — Collaborated on the celebration of the Newkirk Avenue–Little Haiti subway stop unveiling
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Receives education programs through its Global Encounters program from Makandal
- Center for Traditional Music and Dance Partner — Co-presented the "Call the Drum Spirit 2017" concert
- Center for Traditional Music and Dance Partner — Collaborated on the fourth Frisner Augustin Memorial Drum Festival concert in 2017.
- Chantal Regnault Partner — Photographer Chantal Regnault provided cover photos for the albums "The Intimate Touch" and "Prepare".
- City Lore Partner — Collaborated by granting permission to use performance footage in educational or archival materials.
- City Lore Partner — Receives education programs from Makandal
- Department of Cultural Affairs Funder — Funded Makandal's educational programs
- Eugene Lang College at The New School Partner — Co-presented the "Call the Drum Spirit 2017" concert
- Frisner Augustin Memorial Archive Partner — Initiative founded and developed by Makandal to preserve the legacy of Frisner Augustin and expand to include other Haitian and diaspora performing artists
- Fuminori Sato Partner — Photographer Fuminori Sato provided the cover photo for the album "Èzili".
- Granchimen Cultural Center Partner — Collaborated with Makandal by providing cultural escort services for Jacques Fortère during the tribute event.
- Haiti Cultural Exchange Partner — Collaborated as a supporting organization promoting Haitian cultural expressions through arts and education programs.
- Haiti Cultural Exchange Partner — Collaborated on the celebration of the Newkirk Avenue–Little Haiti subway stop unveiling
- Hunter College CUNY Partner — Hosted Makandal's Tanbou weekly drum workshop as part of its Music Department’s ethnomusicology program from 1983 to 2018
- KOSANBA (The Congress of Santa Barbara) Partner — Collaborated to advance scholarship and understanding of Vodou in Haitian development and culture.
- Kesler Pierre Partner — Collaborated on a performance event integrated with a Vodou bottle exhibit at Greenwood Cemetery.
- Kesler Pierre Partner — Collaborated with artist Kesler Pierre on album cover designs and t-shirt design.
- Lois Wilcken Partner — Designer Lois Wilcken created the album covers for "Èzili" and "Prepare".
- Makini Sacred Arts Partner — Collaborated on the Banbòch Gede event with food, drink, and offerings
- Meet the Composer Funder — Funded Makandal's educational programs
- NYSCA-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund Government — Provides additional support through a statewide theatre regrant program.
- NYSCA–A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund Partner — Provided additional funding through the Statewide Theatre Regrant Program.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Funded Makandal's educational programs
+ 10 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artist-Led Cultural Continuity and Reliefmethodology: artist-led relief and cultural productionBy centering Haitian artists in live performances, recordings, and fundraising initiatives, the organization strengthens diaspora agency and supports community resilience, because culturally rooted, artist-driven efforts affirm identity and ensure aid and cultural transmission are led by those with lived experience.
- Cultural Preservation through Research and Public Archivingmethodology: cultural_preservation_through_research_and_presentationBy documenting, researching, and digitally archiving Afro-Haitian music and rituals, the organization ensures intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge, because accessible, annotated archives enable broader engagement and safeguard traditions against erasure.
- Culture as Education and Healingmethodology: culture-as-education-and-healingBy using Afro-Haitian Vodou music, dance, and storytelling in performance and education, the organization challenges stereotypes and fosters cross-cultural understanding, because immersive cultural expression creates transformative learning experiences for audiences and strengthens identity among diaspora communities.