# Black Banjo Renaissance: Instrument Building at the Intersection of History and Praxis

On July 21, 2026, the American Folklife Center hosted “Black Banjo Renaissance: Reflections on the Future,” a symposium co-organized with Joe Z. Johnson. The event brought together musicians, scholars, and banjo makers involved in the Black Banjo Renaissance, a movement to reclaim and sustain the legacies of African American banjo players. This panel discussion focuses on the experiences of contemporary banjo makers participating in the movement.

Discussants include Samaria Marley, Dr. Dena Jennings, Kristina Gaddy, and Pete Ross. The panel is moderated by Lilian Werbin.

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2026
- Runtime: 1 h 40 min
- By: Werbin, Lilian
- Genres: History
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/video-12482/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/video-12482?play=1)