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Seattle Diaspora Day
The lineup

Nine stages, run by the communities that built them.

Each stage has a lead community partner, its own cooks, its own performers, its own crowd. Walk between them all day.

Ethiopian Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 01
Ethiopian Stage
Ethiopian diaspora

Coffee ceremony all afternoon. Live eskista at 6pm. Bring a friend.

Lead community partner
Habesha Cultural Center of Seattle
Music styles
Eskista, Tizita, modern Amharic pop
Sample performers
Selam Band · Hewan Gebremeskel (vocals) · Addis Drum Circle
Sample food vendors
Queen Sheba — injera + tibs · Coffee from Buna Co. · Habesha textiles
Eritrean Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 02
Eritrean Stage
Eritrean diaspora

Round dancing kicks off at 7pm. Beginners welcome — the circle pulls you in.

Lead community partner
Eritrean Community Center, Rainier Valley
Music styles
Guayla, krar, classic Tigrinya
Sample performers
Awet & the Asmara Project · Tsehaye (krar)
Sample food vendors
Asmara Kitchen — zigni + himbasha · Red Sea Spices
Somali Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 03
Somali Stage
Somali diaspora

Storytelling tent in Somali + English. Henna artists on the side.

Lead community partner
Somali Family Safety Task Force
Music styles
Dhaanto, qaraami, oud
Sample performers
Hodan Abdi · Mogadishu Sound System
Sample food vendors
Hooyo's Sambusa · Banaadiri Tea House · East African Books
Indian Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 04
Indian Stage
South Asian diaspora

Bhangra at 8pm. Stay for the dosa line — it's worth it.

Lead community partner
Seattle Tagore Society + Indian Association of Western Washington
Music styles
Bhangra, Carnatic, Bollywood DJ
Sample performers
Dholak Collective · Priya Iyer (Bharatanatyam) · DJ Anand
Sample food vendors
Chaat House · Dosa Cart · Bangles by Meera
Vietnamese Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 05
Vietnamese Stage
Vietnamese diaspora

Lion dance opens at 2pm. Lantern lighting at sundown.

Lead community partner
Friends of Little Saigon
Music styles
Nhạc trẻ, đàn tranh, indie
Sample performers
Sài Gòn Strings · Linh Nguyễn
Sample food vendors
Bánh Mì Nhi · Phở 99 · Lotus Tea Bar
Filipino Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 06
Filipino Stage
Filipino diaspora

Tinikling lesson at 4pm — kids run it.

Lead community partner
Filipino Community of Seattle
Music styles
Kulintang, OPM, hip-hop
Sample performers
Tinikling Crew Seattle · MC Maganda
Sample food vendors
Lumpia Lady · Halo-Halo Bar · Sari-Sari Mercantile
West African Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 07
West African Stage
West African diaspora (Nigerian, Ghanaian, Senegalese, Ivorian)

Drum circle is open — pick one up.

Lead community partner
West African Community Council
Music styles
Afrobeats, highlife, djembe
Sample performers
Lagos Lights · Djembe Brothers · DJ Kwame
Sample food vendors
Mama Esi's Jollof · Suya Spot · Ankara Threads
Latin American Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 08
Latin American Stage
Latin American diaspora

Salsa lesson at 5pm. Bring water — the floor gets full.

Lead community partner
Casa Latina + El Centro de la Raza
Music styles
Cumbia, son jarocho, reggaetón
Sample performers
Sonora del Sur · Marimba Chiapaneca · DJ Selva
Sample food vendors
Tacos La Esquina · Pupusería Salvadoreña · Arepas y Más
Pacific Islander Stage — community celebration in Seattle
Stage 09
Pacific Islander Stage
Pacific Islander communities (Samoan, Tongan, Hawaiian, Chamorro, Fijian)

Siva and haka at 3pm. Umu-style plates until they run out.

Lead community partner
Pacific Islander Community Association of WA
Music styles
Siva, haka, island reggae, ukulele
Sample performers
Le Fetu Samoa Dance Group · Kava Roots Band · Halau Hula o Seattle
Sample food vendors
Island Plate — kalua pork + poke · Otai Bar · Tapa Cloth Goods
More stages added as community partners join. Want to bring a stage? Email us.