Journey to the Center of the Arts

Renee “Abayomi” Goodall or as she is best known, “Sister Yomi” is an accomplished performing and visual artist often described as a personality of “rhythm, color and sound.” Ms. Goodall’s artistic endeavors and versatility has led her to performance stages around the world. Abayomi has danced and toured with the Stevie Wonder’s African Dancers Against Apartheid, reggae group Third World, The Calabash Dance Theatre, Roberto Borrell y Su Ku Bata, & Les Guiraviories Ivory Coast Dancers. Sister Yomi founded The Children of the Diaspora Dance Theatre in Brooklyn, NY in 1985 and in 1994 she founded The Children of the Diaspora African Music Ensemble in Las Vegas, NV. In 1998 she formed the “Sisters of Kuumba”, an all women’s music, song, dance & storytelling ensemble and Journey to the Center of the Arts, in Atlanta, GA. As artistic director and choreographer for her companies, Sister Yomi has received overwhelming recognition for her ability as an Educator, Dancer, Choreographer, Musician and Storyteller.

Since coming to Alabama in 2010, Sister Yomi has served as Director of The Ancient Africa, Enslavement & Civil War Museum, Program Director of The Black Belt Arts & Culture Center, instructor & performer of traditional African dance and drum with the BBACC & The BamaKids, consultant and presenter on the African American cultural holiday known as “KWANZAA” with The Deltas, Tipton Middle School and The 21st Century Youth Leadership program to name a few. She has also been a keynote speaker and performer on health and fitness for the West Central Alabama Community Health Improvement League, Inc and the UAB Center for the Study of Community Health, a youth facilitator for FOCAL (Federation of Child Care Centers of Alabama), keynote speaker and storyteller at honor roll assemblies and reading rallies in Selma public schools, the Annual Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic Luncheon, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc RIF Breakfast with Santa and Sister Yomi has been seen all over Alabama portraying the great Ms.Harriet Tubman.

Sister Yomi is a member of The Association of Black Home Schools, The National Association of Black Storytellers, The Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia and FREED! (Female Re-Enactors of Distinction).

She is a recipient of numerous grants, civic and community awards for her work in the Folk Arts. Women in the NAACP (WIN) seeks to enhance the leadership role of women, serve as an advocacy vehicle for issues affecting women and children, and advocate for the positive development of children.