This Saturday, join in Community & Celebration to Honor Tata Sandor Diabankouezi and His Life and Legacy!

Diji (Wake) for Pierre Sandor Diabankouezi

📅 Saturday, March 15, 2025
⏰ 5:00-9:00 PM
📍 2277 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94606

All are welcome. See FB Invite here.

Matondo for your presence and support. ❤️

Diji for Tata Sandor

March 5, 2025

Community Announcement: Honoring the Legacy of Tata Sandor

We are honored to share the journey of Tata Pierre Sandor Diabankouezi, a revered Elder, artist, and cultural pillar, whose impact on the Oakland African Dance community is immeasurable.

The calling to document Tata Sandor's legacy led me in 2023 to launch an initiative through O.Y.A. Strategies Production, with generous support from ACTA's Living Cultures Grant. This project aimed at preserving his oral histories, songs, and the cultural narratives woven into his Mikwe paintings. —ensuring his contributions to African dance and culture in the Bay Area and beyond endures for generations.

In 2022, Tata Sandor expressed his heartfelt wish to return home to the Republic of Congo. Called to Honor his declaration, O.Y.A. Strategies partnered with Kinship agencies and organization to unite and launched Bon Voyage Fête Fundraiser, hosting a Silent Auction of his artwork to support his journey.

In July 2024, his Supreme Homecoming was fulfilled as he arrived in Brazzaville, received with love from Family Friend and Embrace Kongo delegates.

Seven months later, on February 26, 2025, Our Beloved, Pierre Sandor Diabankouezi transitioned, leaving behind a legacy of movement, artistry, and tradition. On behalf of O.Y.A. Strategies, we extend our deepest gratitude to all who supported his transition from Petaluma, California to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. To Our Kinship Partners and Tata Sandor’s Family for the Trust, Our works ensured his final journey was met with dignity, love, and community care. Thank You!

Matondo, Tata. Your spirit dances on. 💛

#HonoringTataSandor #KongoLegacy #Matondo

[read full story]

BLESSED 2025!

Greetings Community,

With heartfelt gratitude, O.Y.A. Strategies thanks Fua Dia Kongo, the Malonga Village, and all of you for making our Silent Auction a success! Our goal was $3,500, and together, we surpassed it—raising $3507.50 through the auction and $435 in donations totaling $3,943 from the online campaign to support Tata Sandor’s Supreme Journey Homeward to the Republic of Congo.

This achievement reflects the Power of Community. Thank you for your generosity!

"I'm home", said Tata Sandor when he arrived at Maya-Maya airport on July 19, 2024, surrounded by Family, Friends, and some Embrace Kongo '24 delegates. Photo taken in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, Aug 4, 2024.

[cr: photo courtesy of O.Y.A. Strategies]

For updates on Tata Sandor’s journey click here.

In Gratitude,
O.Y.A. Strategies

Update: 05.21.24

Community!

Our Fete Community Fundraiser Gathering last week was absolutely STUPENDOUS! Thanks to your support, we’ve raised 58% of our goal through the Silent Auction.

Your donations are helping provide essential supplies to bring comfort and ease to Tata Sandor's journey homeward.

Let’s keep the momentum going! Continue to bid on original Mikwe Paintings by Tata Sandor, as well as unique services and goods. Every contribution brings us one step closer to our goal.

If you can’t give, sharing our campaign on your social media and within your networks would mean the world to us. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank You!

Tata Sandor Diabankouezi: A Master Congolese Artist with a Heart of Gold

Imagine starting your artistic journey at just nine years old. For Tata Sandor Diabankouezi, that's exactly where it all began. As a choreographer and lead dancer for the National Ballet du Congo, he mesmerized audiences across Africa before making his mark in the United States.

40 years of dedicated service, Tata Sandor has become a cornerstone of the African arts community and Fua Dia Kongo of Oakland. Tata Sandor is a revered teacher, mentor, and visual artist, and known for his exquisite Mikwe paintings. These paintings, rooted in Congolese tradition, beautifully depict daily village life, capturing moments of dancing, drumming, and more.

His impact includes his unwavering contributions to legacy institutions in the Bay Area, like The Africans Are Coming, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival annual concert series and the revered People Like Me (past arts education series of World Arts West). These events celebrate African cultural heritage, bringing together professionals, scholars, and advocates to preserve and celebrate traditions while building community connections.

Tata Sandor also has generously shared his talent and skills with aspiring visual artists, teaching them the art of Mikwe paintings. Through these sessions, he's fostered a tight-knit community bringing women together throughout the North Bay.

Sandor's health is rapidly declining, and he now relies on a wheelchair for mobility, requiring daily care support. Despite his limited public appearances with assistance, his engagement with the community is becoming increasingly restricted. Our fundraising efforts on GiveButter kickoffs the Bon Voyage Community Fete Fundraiser. We, as a Community, extend a invitation to the all to come and fellowship with Tata Sandor, be in Community, and Celebrate Our Elder.

Let us pay homage to his unwavering dedication and extend our sincerest blessings as he embarks on a Supreme journey homeward.

Join FuaDia Kongo and Bay Area Agencies in celebrating Tata Sandor Diabankouezi's return to the Republic of Congo after 40 years of enriching the Bay Area's cultural scene. As the eldest living Congolese Master Artist, his legacy as a dancer, choreographer, and visual artist has made a lasting impact. Tata Sandor's contributions shine brightly.

Help Us Provide Comfort and Care for Our Beloved Elder's Journey!

Donations will cover essential items for the journey:

Specialized medical and orthopedic cushion for the journey
Essential Medications
Assisted devices for daily activities
Additional baggage fees
ADA Transport to Airport

Join us in making this journey as smooth and comfortable as possible. Thank you kindly for your support!

MATONDO!

Dancer and Drummer by the fire