New initiative, supported in part by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County's Grassroots Arts Program, introduces five signature cultural experiences celebrating Black history through music, theater, poetry, dance, and storytelling.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Book Black Women, Inc. is proud to announce the official launch of The Yaya's Cultural Heritage Performance Series, a new year-round initiative celebrating Black history through immersive live performance, music, storytelling, poetry, dance, and community experiences.
The series is made possible in part through funding from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County's 2026–2027 Grassroots Arts Program, with Cool Spring Downtown District serving as the project's fiscal agent. Support through the Grassroots Arts Program makes it possible for Book Black Women to expand year-round cultural programming, increase access to the arts, and bring original cultural experiences to audiences throughout Cumberland County.
Rather than presenting a single annual production, The Yaya's Cultural Heritage Performance Series introduces five signature experiences that will return throughout the year, each exploring a different chapter of Black artistic and cultural history. By blending education with entertainment, the series invites audiences to experience Black history not as something confined to textbooks, but as a living story expressed through music, theater, dance, poetry, and community.
The series includes five signature productions:
- Yaya's Sunday Blues — An intimate evening of blues, soul, and cabaret.
- Yaya's Juke Joint: The Musical Revue — A theatrical celebration of Southern Black music, storytelling, and community traditions.
- Yaya's House O' Funk — A high-energy celebration of funk, soul, dance, fashion, and Black joy.
- Yaya's Muse — A modern jazz, poetry, and storytelling lounge experience celebrating Black artistic expression.
- Yaya's Amateur Night — Inspired by the legacy of historic Black performance spaces, providing emerging artists with a stage to share their talents and connect with audiences.
"The Yaya's Cultural Heritage Performance Series was created to give our community more than performances," said Ayana Washington, Founder and Creative Director of Book Black Women, Inc. "We want people to step inside history, experience it through music and storytelling, and leave feeling more connected to the richness of Black culture and to one another. This series is an invitation for our community to experience Black history through the arts in ways that are engaging, joyful, and deeply meaningful."
Programming officially begins this season with auditions in July, followed by the inaugural Yaya's Sunday Blues in August. Additional performances will continue throughout the year at venues across Cumberland County and beyond, with new community partnerships and special performances being added as the series continues to grow.
To accompany the launch, Book Black Women has also unveiled a dedicated online experience where audiences can explore each signature production, browse the season lineup, view galleries, learn about the initiative, and stay connected with upcoming events, artist opportunities, and announcements.
More information about the series can be found at:
https://bookblackwomen.com/yayas-cultural-heritage-series
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