About:

​Harambee (in Swahili let's get together) Pasadia (in Spanish to spend the day) 

Harambee Pasadia CIC was co-founded by Dr. Hannabiell Sanders (Artistic Director) and Yilis del Suriel (Executive Director) in order to use music to engage and transform communities. 
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Harambee Pasadia CIC is a cultural organisation, who create, organise, and manage activities and events showcasing music, dance, arts, theatre, and film of the African and Pan-African Diaspora. Collaborating with artists, activists, cultural and learning institutions, venues, and community organisations is at the core of our philosophy. Our Flagship event is Harambee Pasadia, Afro Fusion Arts Festival. The festival, its associated musical events and partnerships are dedicated to social change and demonstrating impact in our communities.

About: Our Story

Dr. Hannabiell Sanders
​Artistic Director

Yilis del Carmen Suriel
Executive Director

The Beginning: Two women, One Vision

In 2013, two women from diverse cultural backgrounds and a passion to use art as a form for social engagement started a festival.  

Hannabiell Sanders, an African American Jamaican born in New Jersey-USA, is a bass trombonist, an African and Latin hand percussionist, and a composer. She is a progressive music teacher who strives to teach her students different ways of using their voices to build and make unified communities through music. 

Yilis del Carmen Suriel, born in Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana, and moved to the United States at the age of nine, is a  Printmaker, papermaker, a multimedia artist, performer, and musician.  She is an educator, artist, and musician who believes in the power of people to make change.

​Hannabiell & Yilis, produce various events, concerts, workshops, residencies and festivals. They create and design live concerts, book local and international artists, produce marketing materials, and provide on site event management.

They have worked with and collaborated with local, national, and international artists including: 
Black Voices, Seckou Keita, Sens Sagna, Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, Climbing Poetree, Camp Vamps, The Baghdaddies, AfroKru, Northern Monkey Brass Band, Ajah UK, Martin Hylton, Alan Vaughan, Ella Mesma, Kema Kay, Jack Drum Arts, Martha Hill, Crossings, Backyard Rhythm Orchestra, Nansady Keita, Drum Din, Drummed up, Tenth Avenue Band, Too Spicy, Sidiki Dembele, Volta 45, Anansi, Afsumu Blue, Linos Wengara Magaya and Zimbaremabwe Mbira Vives, the Din, Guessman, James Joys, DJ Panco, DJ Mariam Rezai, Nik Barreras, DJ Zero dB, DJ Alexo, DJ Carlitos, DJ Lalya, Tim Shaw, Nik Alevroyiannis.

Several of their concerts and workshops have taken place in various settings throughout the North East including Star & Shadow Cinema, The Cluny, Cobalt Studio, Live Theatre, Cumberland Arms, Holts Yard, Newcastle University, The Cluny, Northumbira University.