EPISODE · Jun 8, 2026 · 9 MIN
Dancing in and escaping from wartime Liberia
from Crosscurrents · host KALW
June is National Immigrant Heritage Month. And that brings us to another legacy Bay Area arts institution was founded by immigrants from west Africa: Diamano Coura West African Dance Company in Oakland. Founded by award winning artistic directors, Zakarya and Naomi Diouf, They've been performing and teaching dance from Western and Central Africa since 1975. Over the decades, Diamano Coura dancers have hailed from countries like Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo… Next we’ll share one of our favorite stories, from my first years at KALW - about one of their dancers who immigrated from Liberia.Karsumo Massaquoi loved, and lived, to dance. But, he almost didn’t survive to do either.
What this episode covers
June is National Immigrant Heritage Month. And that brings us to another legacy Bay Area arts institution was founded by immigrants from west Africa: Diamano Coura West African Dance Company in Oakland. Founded by award winning artistic directors, Zakarya and Naomi Diouf, They've been performing and teaching dance from Western and Central Africa since 1975. Over the decades, Diamano Coura dancers have hailed from countries like Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo… Next we’ll share one of our favorite stories, from my first years at KALW - about one of their dancers who immigrated from Liberia. Karsumo Massaquoi loved, and lived, to dance. But, he almost didn’t survive to do either.
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Dancing in and escaping from wartime Liberia
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