From jazz to rock & roll, the blues to hip hop, and funk to go-go, the Black community has long had a profound and enduring impact on the music that has both shaped and defined American culture. In fact, the beautiful and diverse sounds that emanate from our shores would be greatly diminished – a mere footnote on the pages of life – were it not for the contributions of countless, talented Black creatives and musicians.
With music a critical part of Black culture, sacred musical spaces such as the Motown Museum, Home of Hitsville U.S.A., in Detroit; the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, and the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx all are brick and mortar spaces that memorialize the contributions of African American art and artists.
Now, Washington, D.C. joins the cities touting a museum that showcases a music and culture unique to the District: go-go.
On Nov. 18, the Go-Go Museum and Cafe hosted a ribbon cutting in Anacostia on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., marking the barrier-breaking site’s soft opening.
“We’ve never had anything here in Southeast built by the people that represented our town and our people. I’m so glad we finally have this space,” said Ron Moten, the museum’s co-founder and CEO.
And Moten was right on target. With this new facility, which will include a recording studio, an outdoor stage and exhibition and interactive areas, District youth will have a place and a space where their imaginations and creativity can be cultivated and allowed to bear fruit.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized the significance of the new cultural center.
“We have over 80 museums in Washington, D.C. But until today, we had one that was missing. You will be proud of the vision, content and experience that you will get at the Go-Go Museum,” she said, adding that people who fail to remember their history are destined to lose everything.
While go-go lovers and novices alike have only been able to understand or appreciate the unique culture by witnessing a band perform live or hearing a recording, the Go-Go Museum enshrines the musical genre in a way that celebrates its value and impact in the District and nationwide.
The soul of go-go, no longer has to be handed down through the bands and fans. People can learn about the history of go-go and artists such as Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, Experience Unlimited, Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, Little Benny and the Masters, and Backyard Band. Visitors to the museum and cafe can also celebrate newer groups and the evolution of the go-go sound— from the pocket, to the bounce beat.
Now, finally, go-go has a home of brick and mortar, and Washingtonians should celebrate this amazing achievement. The museum is another step in working toward preserving D.C. culture and highlighting the strong, resilient and innovative people that are born in and live in the nation’s capital.