Ujima Company, Inc.

Today, our community remembers the loved ones lost in the TOPS shooting May 14th 2022. Celestine Chaney, 65 Roberta A. Drury, 32 Andre Mackneil, 53 Katherine Massey, 72 Margus D. Morrison, 52 Heyward Patterson, 67 Aaron Salter, 55 Geraldine Talley, 62 Ruth Whitfield, 86 Pearl Young, 77 We will never forget you. You are forever missed.

In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, Ujima Company went purple in support of Together for Youth foster care families in Buffalo. Go Purple!

Bridgeport/Baptism I was Baptized in the Church of God and Christ when I was four years old. They dressed me in a white cotton gown, stood me on the shore of Lake Somethin’ or Other grabbed my head and my back and threw me backward into the icy waters of redemption. I came up spitting and coughing and snorting and saved. We went to Elder Turner’s church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. We lived in Mt. Vernon, NY, and I remember thinking there must be a church between here and Bridgeport. But then the Bridgeport saints did seem extra holy. I felt holy just bein’ around them. My real objection to the Sunday morning car trip was that I got car sick. Seems like everytime. I remember throwing up all over my orange plaid drop waist dress with pleats that I loved so much and then gettin’ Papa’s undershirt out of the trunk of the car and me wearin’ it to church with them sayin’ Oh she looks alright, she’s just a baby. She looks cute. The best part about being in church was being with my mother. She was so beautiful in white. I loved sitting next to her when she would stand up with her right hand raised to testify, “I want to thank God for being here this mornin’. I want to thank Him for my health and strength, for bringing me through another week safe from sin and harm…” From left to right: Lorna and Ruby (her mother) Ruby Anita was no joke! She was fire. A true believer in hard work and faith. Ruby prayed as hard as she played gin rummy. Gave the best hugs and had a laugh like a drum. Tickets available in our linktree! 🔗 See you this summer!!

SHE WHO MOTHERED ME She took care of me. She was not my mother. She mothered me. She taught me acceptance. She accepted life in a way that was peculiar to her. She told me there were monsters who came in the night and carried off children who would not eat enough, children who were too puny to fight them off. She gave me olive oil blessed by the elders to ensure my bowel movements and general well-being. She let me walk behind her underneath her long white skirts until I was too tall. She never yelled at me or chastised me. I did as I was told because I wanted to please her. She taught me enthusiasm. She prayed and sang songs of praise. She let me cut the corns from her toes with a razor blade and squeeze the worms from her blackheads. She taught me faith and trust. She warned me, “Chile, don’t grow ole if you can he’p it.” And though she was old from the time I was born, we were always girls together. From left to right: Lorna C. Hill, Curtis Lovell, Viola Byrd Aunt Vi is the inspiration for SHE WHO MOTHERED ME. She was tenacious and gentle. Open and sharp. Watching my mother and Vi together was witnessing real love. Reverence. YALLA BITCH SUMMER TOUR Link in Bio!

Geronimo Aunt Vi said the Indians left me on the doorstep Idon’t remember what my question was But I was satisfied with the answer I used to imagine Geronimo comin’ down South 11th Avenue from the Dead End (beyond which was certainly no man’s land) And he stops at 513 and lays this bundle which is me, on the front stoop of the tenement. He could have chosen any house, a pretty house, with a lawn and trees, He could have chosen a family with other kids so I’d have sisters and brothers but he chose 513, the only tenement on the block, and he thought “Good People Here” I figured I was well off. At least I knew who my father was. I didn’t worry about… if Geronimo is my father then who is my mother? I was immediately reconciled to the idea that he was my father and Ruby was my mother even though they had never met and it was me knowing both of them that joined them. Yeah, I figured I was well off. I knew my parents. I had a mysterious background, and everyone in my world loved me despite the fact that I was not truly of them. I was rich. YALLA BITCH SUMMER TOUR Link in our bio!!

Introducing our Pen To Paper Poetry MasterClass Panelists ✍🏾🔥 We've got the best of the best! I need you all to give your loudest shouts and support for @curtisthecourteous @edreys @cirque_du_life @deiaism @yamilla_tate_writer and Ten Thousand who I will tag in this post!❤️🙌🏾 These legendary artists, poets, and educators will be providing feedback and helping the writers and poets in our workshop to refine their work! Whether you'd like help writing better or performing better this workshop is the place for you! This is a judgement free zone! Come as you are. Arrive with your creative ideas and like plants we will help you water them🫰🏾✨🌱 April 25th 2026 Ujima Theater 429 Plymouth Avenue 6pm - 8:30pm (I know the last flyer said 9, we had to push it back!) Arrive early so we can get started on time and out on time as well! Thank you in advance! 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

June 19 & 20 - School 77 @ 6pm 429 Plymouth Ave Buffalo, NY 14213 June 21 - 5 Points Bakery @ 6pm 44 Brayton St. Buffalo, NY 14213 (Ticketed location) June 26 - Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens @ 6pm 2655 South Park Ave Buffalo, NY 14218 June 27 - 60 Winston Rd @ 6pm 60 Winston Rd Buffalo, NY 14216 (Ticketed location) June 28 - Silo City @ 2pm 120 Silo City Row Buffalo, NY 14203 June 28 - Duende @ 6pm 85 Silo City Row Buffalo, NY 14203 (ticketed location) July 6 - Saul Elkin Hill @ 6pm 199 Lincoln Pkwy Buffalo, NY 14222 July 10 - Penn Dixie Fossil Park @ 6pm 4050 North Street Blasdell, NY 14219 July 12 - Freedom Garden @ 6pm 333 Clinton st Buffalo,NY 14204 Ticketed Locations are available to purchase on our website! Link in bio! Hope to see you there!

Quick Facts: Doors open at 5! Dancer registration closes at 6! $10 to enter the battle. Spectators PAY WHAT YOU CAN! Admission is free for all kids! Shoutout to our sponsors: @edreys x @byalexajoan x @eatoffart x @cultruelife @aitheanomaly x @getfokusdproductions Love yall, ✌🏾

Here it is! Ujima’s 48th Season!! Juicy and Delicious By Lucy Alibar Sept 18th -27th Where We Stand By Donnetta Lavinia Grays Nov 13th - 22nd Unfinished Women Cry in No Man’s Land While A Bird Dies In A Gilded Cage By Aishah Rahman Mar 5th - 14th Hang Time By Zora Howard May 21st - 30th

The countdown begins! 6 days until The Pit! My goal is to sell 50 ticket in 6 days. Help me make that happen by purchasing your “Pay What You Can” spectator ticket today! This event is NOT just for dancers. We need a circle full of energy around our dancers to show them love as they compete for $500! Tag your favorite dancers! And purchase a ticket for you, your kids, your boo, and your mom! This is a family friendly event! Ticket link in my bio! Help me make a dream come true ❤️ Love yall, ✌🏾

The Pit All-Styles Dance Battle returns—bringing dancers together for an energetic night of competition, culture, and community. Featuring @trujourneymusic and sounds by The Foreign Fabric Collective (a live DJ and live band experience) Hosted by: Navi Founded in 2017 by Jimmy “RooK” Hawkins, The Pit continues to honor his legacy and lasting impact on the dance community. $500 cash prize for the 1st place winner Dancer entry: $10 Spectators: pay what you can Dancer check-in: 4:30pm Open session from 5–6 PM—come ready to dance! Dancer and Spectator Sign-Up link in bio