The MOJA Arts Festival is a celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts. Selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for many years, the MOJA Arts Festival promises an exciting line-up of events with a rich variety of traditional favorites. Nearly half of the events are admission-free, and the remainder are offered at modest ticket prices.
The event is a multi-disciplinary festival produced and directed by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.
Moja, a Swahili word meaning “One,” is the appropriate name for this festival celebration of harmony among all people in the community. The Festival highlights the many African-American and Caribbean contributions to western and world cultures. MOJA’s wide range of events include visual arts, classical music, dance, gospel, jazz, poetry, R&B music, storytelling, theatre, children’s activities, traditional crafts, ethnic food, and much, much more. In addition to its myriad arts presentations, MOJA also includes an active and busy educational outreach component of workshops in public schools and senior outreach in senior citizen homes.
MOJA Arts Festival
Gaillard Center Box Office
95 Calhoun St
Charleston SC 29401
(843) 724-5212
MOJA Festival Website
Dates: September 28 - October 8, 2023
Time: Varies by event
Admission: Varies by event. Some events are free to the public. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, on-line, on the phone or at the event.
Sept. 28 |
MOJA Opening Day Street Parade • Marion Square down King and Market to US Custom House |
Sept. 28 |
MOJA Arts Festival Opening Reception • City Gallery |
Sept. 28 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Sept. 29 |
Reggae Block Party at Brittlebank Park • The MOJA Reggae Block Dance promises to deliver once again with music from Jamaica’s own Earth Kry. Arrive early to catch reggae talent featuring Da’ Gullah Rootz and Monsoon featuring Operation Irie. The event will include African drumming and dance from Deninufay. Food trucks and cultural artisan vendors will be on site to round out the experience. Bring the whole family to this wonderful FREE to attend event. |
Sept. 29 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Sept. 29 |
Wedding Band • Village Rep and Threshold present this spell-binding story by one of the most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Alice Childress. |
Sept. 29 |
The War and Treaty • Founded in 2014 by the husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, The War And Treaty have emerged as one of the most electrifying new acts in American music. With a lionhearted sonic blend – both roaring with passion and tender to the touch, they “are making soul moves that are captivating everyone who sees them,” (Hits Magazine). |
Sept. 30 |
3rd Annual Gullah MOJA Art Experience • Cannon Street Arts Center |
Sept. 30 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Sept. 30 |
Yankee Bajan • Yankee Bajan is a unique collaboration between Barbadian artists and Barbadian descendants in the US. Yankee Bajan, is a play with music written by Linda Parris-Bailey and directed by Dahlak Brathwaite. The original play focuses on an African-American family’s response to racism and violence in the US and their sojourn to repatriate to their ancestral home in Barbados. |
Sept. 30 |
Broken Chains & Things • A Theatrical Production that tells the story of an African American grandpa that must step up to the occasion after a series of tragedies. |
Sept. 30 |
Wedding Band • Village Rep and Threshold present this spell-binding story by one of the most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Alice Childress. |
Oct. 1 |
Yankee Bajan • Yankee Bajan is a unique collaboration between Barbadian artists and Barbadian descendants in the US. Yankee Bajan, is a play with music written by Linda Parris-Bailey and directed by Dahlak Brathwaite. The original play focuses on an African-American family’s response to racism and violence in the US and their sojourn to repatriate to their ancestral home in Barbados. |
Oct. 1 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Oct. 1 |
Gospel Concert • Greater St. Luke AME |
Oct. 1 |
Wedding Band • Village Rep and Threshold present this spell-binding story by one of the most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Alice Childress. |
Oct. 4 |
Colour of Music • Hailed as a Southern Cultural Treasure, the Colour of Music Festival (COMF) returns to Charleston's Historic Dock Street Theatre with a classical chamber music performance in honor of the legacy and compositional genius of Charleston-born composer, Edmund Thornton Jenkins. |
Oct. 5 |
MOJA on King Block Party featuring Queens of Hip-Hop and Soul • King St. |
Oct. 5 |
An Evening with Marlanda Dekine and Asiah Mae • Halsey Institute |
Oct. 5 |
Poetry and Story Telling Georgia Nubia • Venue TBD |
Oct. 5 |
Poetry and Story Telling Roger Reeves in conversation with Gary Jackson • Venue TBD |
Oct. 5 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Oct. 5 |
Wedding Band • Village Rep and Threshold present this spell-binding story by one of the most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Alice Childress. |
Oct. 6 |
Poetry and Story Telling • James Island Arts and Cultural Center |
Oct. 6 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Oct. 6 |
Wedding Band • Village Rep and Threshold present this spell-binding story by one of the most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Alice Childress. |
Oct. 6 |
Marcus Anderson • Dock Street Theatre |
Oct. 7 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Oct. 7 |
Poetry and Story Telling • Carr Richardson Park |
Oct. 7 |
Broken Chains & Things • A Theatrical Production that tells the story of an African American grandpa that must step up to the occasion after a series of tragedies. |
Oct. 7 |
Wedding Band • Village Rep and Threshold present this spell-binding story by one of the most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Alice Childress. |
Oct. 7 |
New Jack Swing • Two time Grammy Award Winners Charlton Singleton and Quiana Parler are back by popular demand to continue their flash and flair at the historic MOJA Arts Festival and Charleston Music Hall with non-stop hits to keep the party moving. |
Oct. 7 |
Wedding Band • Village Rep and Threshold present this spell-binding story by one of the most important playwrights of the 20th Century, Alice Childress. |
Oct. 8 |
Paradise Blue • This dramatic drama by Dominique Morisseau unravels a story about a Detroit neighborhood called Black Bottom, at the heart of a club district called Paradise Valley, where a trumpeter called Blue runs a joint they called Paradise, where he fronts a quartet whose sidemen include a drummer called P-Sam and a pianist called Corn. |
Oct. 8 |
MOJA FINALE • Hampton Park |
Oct. 8 |
Joey Morant-All That Jazz, Inc. Fundraiser featuring Mark Whitfield • It's "Joey Morant Day" in the City of Charleston. Join us in remembering this Icon. Special performances by Mark Whitfield. |
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