On May 11, 1934, Sierra Leonean artist Asadata Dafora premiered his groundbreaking opera-dance drama Kykunkor (The Witch Woman) at the Little Theater in New York City. This production was revolutionary as it was the first opera presented in the United States that featured authentic African dances and music, performed in an African language by a predominantly African-born cast. Kykunkor challenged prevailing stereotypes and opened American audiences to the richness of African cultural expressions, laying the foundation for future African and African American artists in the realm of concert dance.
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