About Us

Even today, on any given Sunday at 3pm in the vicinity of Congo Square, the sound of drums still echo and call for people to gather and connect to their ancestral memory, invent new creative expressions and organize African-American artists and communities.

Since its formation in 1989, The Congo Square Foundation, now known as The Congo Square Preservation Society, has been the major catalyst in the resurrection and continuation of activities, advocacy and preservation of historic and sacred Congo Square.  Some of our most significant accomplishments have been:

  • Initiated the Congo Square Living Classroom Field trip for students Pre-K through College.

  • Advocated and secured placement of Congo Square on the National Register of Historic Places -  January 27, 1993.

  • Designed the Congo Square Historic Plaque erected November 23, 1997.

  • Impacted millions through Sunday Congo Square Drumming Workshops since 1989 that have touched people from New Orleans, national and international communities.

  • Produced five Congo Square International Festivals in the 1990’s.

  • Partnered with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation to produce the Congo Square New World’s Rhythms Festival.

  • Hosted and drummed 24 hours in the “Drumming for Life Vigils” in Congo Square - 1994 &1995.

  • Sponsored Congo Square clean-up, healing plant landscaping, logo and essay contests, lectures and historic research.

  • Supported & organized activities, workshops and performances to honor, recognize and celebrate New Orleans’ African-American creative community and culture bearers.

  • Created a marketplace for international drummers, dancers and artists

Who We Are

Leadership Team

​President: Luther Gray, Co-Founder; Emeritus
Jamilah Peters Muhammad, Co-Founder; Emeritus
Vice President: Nana Janet Sula Evans
​Secretary: Lucinda Gaddis
Treasurer: Victor Robinson
Historian: Freddi Evans Williams
​Cultural Ambassador: Ibrahima Seck
Attorney: Dow Edwards
Administrator: Denise L. Graves

Members at Large

Fernando Lopez
Cierra Chenier
Malik Bartholomew
Dr. Ansel Augustine
Wisdom Circle
Mama Carole Bebelle
Mama Menhati Singleton
Baba Marcus Akinlana
Mama Jamilah Peters-Muhammad

The co-founders of Congo Square Preservation Society Jamilah Peters-Muhammad and Luther Gray.

Our Founders

Jamilah Peters Muhammad

Co-Founder; Emeritus

Jamilah Yejide Peters-Muhammad is a lifelong resident of New Orleans. She was educated in the New Orleans Public School system and is a graduate of Dillard University. Jamilah holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Faith Community Nursing. She is a Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother of the most wonderful gifts from God that anyone could ask for and works as a Health and Wellness Consultant at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center and with the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation as a Community Outreach Nurse.

Luther Gray

Co-Founder; Emeritus

Luther has been active in the New Orleans arts community since 1984. He co-founded the Congo Square Foundation in 1989, which was renamed the Congo Square Preservation Society in 2011. The Society has been instrumental in the resurrection of drumming and cultural activities in Congo Square. In 1993, the Congo Square Foundation was successful in placing Congo Square on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1997 the Foundation led the effort to erect the Congo Square historic marker. In addition, he with a team of drum makers including Douglas Redd carved three Bamboula drums from a one hundred year old cypress tree that are now on display at the new Louisiana State Museum of History in Baton Rouge. The Congo Square Preservation Society sponsors weekly Sunday drum circles in Congo Square that date back to 1988. In 2013, the Congo Square Preservation society launched the Congo Square Living Classroom Fieldtrip which consists of a on-site tour of the Armstrong Park Sculpture Garden followed by the Congo Square Drum & Dance Workshop.