Experience heritage, culture at the 1619 Commemoration of the First Enslaved African Landing [2025]
On a hot summer day in August 1619, a moment of profound consequence unfolded on the shores of what’s now Hampton, Virginia. It was here that the first enslaved Africans from present day Angola were brought to English North America, marking the beginning of a harrowing chapter in history. On August 23-24 commemoration events will be held to honor the first Africans brought here in 1619 and to highlight their legacy of culture, identity, resistance and triumph.
Project 1619, Inc. and partners, the Fort Monroe Authority, National Park Service and the City of Hampton, invite the public to the 2025 African Landing Day Commemoration. This significant event will take place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Continental Park, Fort Monroe. The Commemoration will feature remarks by Dijimon Hounsou, a two-time Oscar nominee and founder of the Djimon Hounsou Foundation. There will also be an International Bell Ringing Ceremony, where bells will toll to honor the first enslaved Africans who arrived at Point Comfort, now Fort Monroe, in August 1619.
Free and open to all! Join in this participatory event—come dressed comfortably with walking shoes. Seating is limited, so bring folding chairs or blankets, and water bottles. Enjoy food trucks from 9 AM–3 PM. Weather permitting.
These events will be simultaneously conducted and live-streamed on the Project 1619, Inc. YouTube Channel.
African Landing Day Commemoration Events
Angolan Art Showcase
Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 11:30 AM – 1 PM | FREE
The webinar spotlights the creative work of emerging artists who are redefining contemporary African art through their unique Angolan lens. This isn’t just an art showcase; it’s a cultural bridge connecting the rich artistic heritage and creativity of two countries. Registration required.
A Jazz Night Out – Scholarship Fundraiser
Friday, August 22, 2025 from 6 – 9 PM | Commanding General’s Residence at Ft. Monroe
The William Tucker 1624 Society is hosting its annual Scholarship Fundraiser, “A Jazz Night Out” as part of our African Landing Commemoration Weekend events. The event will feature live music, African dance and drumming, and will include complementary light hors de ’oeuvres.
Actor and activist, Djimon Hounsou, founder of The Djimon Hounsou Foundation and Run Richmond 16.19 will be in attendance to promote this year’s event.
The William Tucker 1624 Society’s Annual African Landing Event
Saturday, August 23, 2025, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Continental Park, Fort Monroe | FREE
This event marks 406 years of African/African American contributions and resilience in America. Senator Mamie Locke, representing Virginia State Senate District 23, will deliver the keynote address.
PS: Don’t forget to ‘check-in’ to Fort Monroe on your Hampton Black History Sites Pass!
African Landing Day Commemoration and International Ringing of the Bells Ceremony
Saturday, August 23, 2025, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Continental Park, Fort Monroe | FREE
Commemorate and recognize the landing of the first enslaved Africans on the shores at Point Comfort. This ceremony will include a parade of flags, dance and drum performances, a bell ringing ceremony, and more. A special guest speaker Djimon Hounsou, a two-time Oscar nominee and founder of the Djimon Hounsou Foundation will make remarks at the ceremony.
On December 2, 2019, the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Hounsou announced the formation of the Djimon Hounsou Foundation (DHF) at the United Nations in New York City. Hounsou’s nonprofit, which organizes Run Richmond 16.19, aims to reconnect the African Diaspora with the motherland and combat modern-day slavery & human trafficking.
Also:
- Stick around for Resiliency: The Unbreakable Spirit of Survival – a free walking tour of Fort Monroe at 1 PM. No registration required; Beings at the Visitor & Education Center.
- Get your tickets NOW for a Hampton Historical Landmark Bus Tour at 1:30 PM Saturday & Sunday! Learn about the first Africans brought to Point Comfort in 1619 and hear highlights about their legacy of culture, identity, resistance and triumph. These 2-hour tours are $15/each and include a gift bag & snacks.
Premiere of The Legacy of 1619: The Calvin Pearson Story
Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM | Hampton Roads Convention Center
The Healing and Cleansing Ceremony
Sunday, August 24, 2025, 6 a.m. | Outlook Beach, Fort Monroe | FREE
This Day of Healing offers attendees a unique opportunity for spiritual cleansing and renewal. Participants are encouraged to wear all white for this ceremony.
African Landing Day Bus Tour
Sunday, August 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Commemorate African Landing Day by taking a historic bus tour of Hampton’s Black History Landmarks. Visit Fort Monroe, the Tucker Family Cemetery, Hampton History Museum and the Emancipation Oak. Learn about the first Africans brought to Point Comfort in 1619 and hear highlights about their legacy of culture, identity, resistance and triumph. Tours are 2 hours long and begin at the Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center.
Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance. Limited seats available!
Spend the Day at Fort Monroe
After the ceremony and activities, stick around Fort Monroe to uncover the lesser-told stories of history. Take a break for lunch without leaving the fort, then spend the afternoon experiencing all this remarkable place has to offer.
Begin at the Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center to view the indoor exhibit that highlights the role of Fort Monroe as a refuge for “Contraband” during the Civil War. While there, pick up a walking tour map or directions to nearby points of interest, like the First African Marker. To fully immerse yourself in our nation’s past, consider following the Fort Monroe Cell Phone Tour as you make your way through the grounds.
PS: Don’t forget to ‘check-in’ on your Hampton Black History Sites Pass as you visit the listed African American Heritage sites!
The Landing of the First Africans to English North America
The first Africans, kidnapped and brought to English North America, came from the kingdoms of Kongo, and Ndongo and Matamba, the two largest states in central Africa ruled by an elected King chosen from a line of royal lineages. The highly advanced societies were invaded by the Portuguese in the late 1400s who in the ensuing decades meddled in the affairs of the African continent and eventually set in motion the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
In 1619 the São João Bautista sailed from the Port of Luanda, Angola laden with over 350 enslaved Africans bound for Vera Cruz in the colony of New Spain. The horrors of the middle passage across the Atlantic are unimaginable. As the slave ship transited the Bay of Campeche, two English privateer ships, the White Lion and Treasurer attacked the São João Bautista and seized 60 Africans. The privateers, looking for refuge and supplies, sailed north until reaching Point Comfort in August 1619. The enslaved Africans were brought ashore and traded for supplies after which they were sold to colonists throughout the area.
This historical event changed the course of the history from the early years of the Virginia colony, to the founding of America and into the future. The perseverance, resiliency and courage of the men and women who landed at Point Comfort ensured the survival of the nascent colony and enriched those who exploited them
Slavery in the English colonies began with this happen chance as did the collision of three cultures: Indigenous, African and European. Oftentimes violence and destruction were the result of the encounter, but so is the fusion of practices that are seen in many aspects of American culture, such as the preparation of foods, music, language and oral traditions.
