Home | Sankofa

Since '98

Founded by Shirikiana and Haile Gerima and named after the internationally acclaimed film SANKOFA they produced. It's symbol, the Sankofa Bird, looks backward constantly checking as she moves into the future.

Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe is liberated territory that hopes to be a place where thoughtful consideration of the past and future can take place via books, films, and programming particularly generated by and about people of African Descent.

I want to know more

Give Meaningful Gifts

new and rare books • independent films • handcrafts

Upcoming Events

Sankofa Presents Dancing in Blackness
Fri, Feb 05
Zoom and Facebook @SankofaDC
Feb 05, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EST
Zoom and Facebook @SankofaDC
Dr. Halifu Osumare in Conversation with Renee' Charlow
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Nnedi Okorafor's "Remote Control" Book Launch Event
Tue, Jan 19
Online event. Registration in description.
Jan 19, 6:30 PM EST
Online event. Registration in description.
Remote Control Book Launch Event : Nnedi Okorafor in Conversation with Glory Edim.
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The Brother You Choose
Wed, Jan 13
Zoom & Facebook Live @SankofaDC
Jan 13, 7:00 PM EST
Zoom & Facebook Live @SankofaDC
The Brother You Choose: A Conversation with Eddie Conway, Paul Coates, Susie Day and Interlocutor Greg Thomas
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10th Annual Magical Mirrors Children's Book Fair
Fri, Dec 11
Zoom & Facebook Live
Dec 11, 2020, 1:00 PM EST – Dec 13, 2020, 6:00 PM EST
Zoom & Facebook Live
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Join us for a special presentation of Taught by Women
Thu, Dec 10
Zoom & Facebook Live (@SankofaDC)
Dec 10, 2020, 7:00 PM EST
Zoom & Facebook Live (@SankofaDC)
| Postponed to DEC 10th | Join us for a special presentation of Taught by Women with world renown author, poet and publisher, Haki Madhubuti.
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Sankofa Presents Ntozake Shange's Dance We Do: A Poet Explores Black Dance
Mon, Dec 07
Zoom & Facebook Live
Dec 07, 2020, 6:30 PM EST
Zoom & Facebook Live
Please join us for a virtual conversation on Ntozake Shange's, "Dance We Do: A Poet Explores Black Dance". Hosted by Renee' Charlow featuring dancers Mickey Davidson, Dyane Harvey, Halifu Osumare, Otis Sallid, Devalois Fearon, and Dianne McIntyre.
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The Golden Apple Changing the Structure of Civilization, Aftermath Vol 3
Tue, Nov 17
Zoom & Facebook Live (@SankofaDC)
Nov 17, 2020, 7:00 PM EST
Zoom & Facebook Live (@SankofaDC)
The Golden Apple Changing the Structure of Civilization, Aftermath Vol 3 with author Edgar Ridley in Conversation with Dr. Jeff Menzise. Zoom Registration in event description.
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Virtual lecture of Teaching the Children of Tawahedo: Africa and the Ethio-Judeo Christian Legacy
Wed, Nov 04
Zoom & FB Live. Registration Link Below
Nov 04, 2020, 6:30 PM EST
Zoom & FB Live. Registration Link Below
Join us for a virtual lecture of Teaching the Children of Tawahedo: Africa and the Ethio-Judeo Christian Legacy with author, Dr.Ts'gye Rachel Titilayo Leslie
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You Next: Reflections in Black Barber Shops
Fri, Oct 16
ZOOM & Facebook @SankofaDC
Oct 16, 2020, 7:00 PM
ZOOM & Facebook @SankofaDC
Join us for a journey into Antonio Johnson's new photography series, You Next: Reflections in Black Barber Shops
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Happy Nappy Storytelling featuring Author, Kelly Starling Lyons
Sun, Oct 04
Facebook Live @SankofaDC
Oct 04, 2020, 3:00 PM EDT
Facebook Live @SankofaDC
Join Ty on his adventures that celebrate the imagination and power of persistence in Ty's Travels series by the acclaimed author and illustrator team, Kelly Starling Lyons and Nina Mata.
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Nkechi Taifa in Conversatio with Denise Rolark Barnes
Sat, Oct 03
Facebook Live @SankofaDC
Oct 03, 2020, 6:00 PM EDT
Facebook Live @SankofaDC
Join us for a virtual discussion featuring Denise Rolark-Barnes and Nkechi Taifa for her new memoir Black Power, Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice.
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Nana Akua Goes to School with author Tricia Elam Walker
Sun, Aug 30
Facebook: @SankofaDC
Aug 30, 2020, 3:00 PM EDT
Facebook: @SankofaDC
Join us Sunday, August 30th at 3pm for a virtual reading of Tricia Walker's new children's book, Nana Akua Goes to School followed by a Q&A on our Facebook @Sankofadc.
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Virtual Chat with Tracye McQuirter: Adopting a Vegan Lifestyle During COVID-19
Mon, Aug 24
Online. Register below.
Aug 24, 2020, 6:30 PM
Online. Register below.
A Virtual Chat on Adopting a Vegan Lifestyle During Covid-19 with author and nutritionist Tracye McQuirter
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Beat the Drums of Resistance!
Thu, Jun 04
Sankofa DC + World
Jun 04, 2020, 7:00 PM
Sankofa DC + World, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
8 minutes and 46 seconds of drumming in honor of George Floyd and our collective struggle to end police brutality and institutional racism. On Thursday, June 3rd at 7pm beat your drums in-place, all around the city, and the country, to h
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CRITICAL READING Series
Sun, Jan 26
Sankofa
Jan 26, 2020, 3:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
How to Read Toni Cade Bambara
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Book discussion and signing with Joshua Myers
Sat, Dec 28
Sankofa
Dec 28, 2019, 3:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
The Howard University protests from the perspective and worldview of its participants.
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REEL CINEMA FILM SCREENING: 'SANKOFA'
Fri, Dec 27
Sankofa
Dec 27, 2019, 8:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Reel Cinema Film Series is returning to Sankofa Video, Books, and Cafe with a showing of 'Sankofa' by Haile Gerima.
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9th annual Magical Mirrors Children's Book Fair
Fri, Dec 13
Sankofa
Dec 13, 2019, 11:00 AM – Dec 15, 2019, 6:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Featuring Authors, illustrators, face painting, children's yoga AND books, books, books galore about children of color!
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Historian Bayyinah Bello presents her new book
Fri, Nov 29
Sankofa
Nov 29, 2019, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Meet and Greet Book Signing Event with Historian Bayyinah Bello of her new book SHEROES of the Haitian Revolution
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NONAME'S BOOK CLUB WASHINGTON DC MEET-UP
Sat, Nov 23
Sankofa
Nov 23, 2019, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Reading material for the homies. From cult classics to the words of emergent authors, Noname’s Book Club highlights books that speak on human conditions in critical and original ways.
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Critical Reading: FROM DACHAU WITH LOVE: How to read George Jackson … w/Frantz Fanon?
Sat, Nov 16
Sankofa
Nov 16, 2019, 3:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Critical reading and conversation to go beyond the surface and investigate deeper questions and implications.
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Book Signing
Tue, Nov 05
Sankofa
Nov 05, 2019, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Nana Kobina Nketsia presents his book African culture in governance and development : the Ghana paradigm
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Critical Reading: How to read Toni Morrison
Sun, Sep 15
Sankofa
Sep 15, 2019, 3:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Critical reading and conversation to go beyond the surface and investigate deeper questions and implications.
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Critical Reading: led by Acklyn Lynch, moderated by Haile Gerima
Sun, Apr 07
Sankofa
Apr 07, 2019, 3:00 PM
Sankofa, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Critical Reading is series that engages audiences in conversations on a variety of topics designed to generate knowledge - knowledge not for entertainment but knowledge for revolution.
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Magical Mirrors
Fri, Dec 14
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe
Dec 14, 2018, 12:00 PM – Dec 15, 2018, 6:00 PM
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Sankofa's Annual Children's Book Fair
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Walter Mosley Book Launch and Reception
Wed, Oct 03
Calvary Baptist Church: Woodward Hall
Oct 03, 2018, 6:30 PM
Calvary Baptist Church: Woodward Hall, 733 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Sankofa Bookstore is excited to host The DC Launch of New York Times-Bestselling Author Walter Mosley's new book: John Woman.
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Eloise Greenfield Day
Sun, Apr 22
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe
Apr 22, 2018, 2:00 PM
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
A live conversation between Eloise Greenfield and her daughter, Monica. Featuring recitations of her poems by local elementary school students; a live jazz rendition of her classic poem, Honey, I Love, and a tribute from renowned children's book illustrator Jan Spivey Gilchrist.
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Family Oral History Workshop
Wed, Apr 18
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe
Apr 18, 2018, 6:30 PM
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Learn how to record your family histories with Kelly Navies, Oral History Specialist with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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ChildTimes Oral History Project
Mon, Apr 16
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe
Apr 16, 2018, 11:00 AM – Apr 21, 2018, 8:00 PM
Sankofa Video Books & Cafe, 2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
People of all ages are invited to Sankofa's in-store video booth to recall and record moments from their childhood for this community-based project, inspired by Mrs. Greenfield’s lyrical memoir, ChildTimes. The video booth will be open from April 16-21 11 am - 8 pm
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New Arrivals

Sociology

Opening Hours

Store Hours

Mon-Sat: 11:00am - 8:00pm

Sun: 11:00am - 6:00pm

Cafe Hours

Mon-Thu: 9:00am - 10:00pm

Fri & Sat: 9:00am - 11:30pm

Sun: 9:00am - 9:00pm

visit us

We are located across the street from the Howard Business School, minutes away from the historic U Street and Shaw neighborhoods. Metrorail stations Petworth, U Street, Columbia Heights and Shaw-Howard are located approximately .8 miles away. 70 & 79 buses offer convenient stops nearby.

Since '98

Give Meaningful Gifts

new and rare books • independent films • handcrafts

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

New Arrivals

From Revelations, Vol. III: Prisoner of the New Jim Crow

Ida B. The Queen: The Extraordinary Life And Legacy of Ida B. Wells

Just as I Am: A Memoir (paperback)

Just as I Am: A Memoir (Hard cover)

Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms

Opening Hours

visit us