Justin's TribuTour 2023

My name is Justin Alesna. I am a first-generation African-American/Filipino-American performance artist from Detroit, Michigan. I am excited to share with you that I have been selected by KULARTS, a Cultural Arts Organization in California that focuses on Contemporary and Tribal Pilipino Arts, to participate in the 2023 Tribu Tour from Feburay 20th to March 3rd. This is a one-of-a-kind experience designed to “dispel fearful myths about one of the most complex and misunderstood regions of the world…”

The KULARTS Tribu Tur is a hands-on field study, custom-designed for participants to explore, discover, and draw empowerment from indigenous Pilipino cultures of Mindanao. During the trip, participants will engage in meaningful interactions with T’boli, B’laan, Maguindanaon, and Manobo tribal leaders, shamans & healers, and master artists in their ancestral homes in Davao del Sure, Sanggani, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao.

Through this program, we will…

• Immerse ourselves in the beauty of the Southern Philippines’ myths, cosmology, and ancient ways of knowing.

• Empower our ‘babaylan’ self by participating in traditional rituals led by tribal shamans and ritualists.

• Learn the meaning of sacred and secular dances and music—from epic chants to street dancing.

• Observe craft-making by master artisans: learn about natural dyes and the “dream weaving” of the exquisite t’nalak fabric, “lost wax” gong-making techniques, and more.

• Inform our cultural consciousness with lectures on current indigenous social and political struggles.

For me, this experience will be a great opportunity to learn about my heritage and origins, both on a macro and micro ancestral level. Along with learning the Oral and Living Organic History of the Mindanoa Tribes, I would also like to explore the history of my own family’s origins while in the Motherland— the Land of my Mother—in hopes of dispelling some of my fearful myths of the most complex and misunderstood histories of my world.

With your help, this opportunity for artistic and personal exploration and development will be a reality. This experience will cost approximately $6500, which will cover air travel (foreign and domestic), food, ground transportation, medicine (if needed), lodging, and all other expenses related to this enriching and amazing tour.

I plan to document the journey through, photos, video, and writing. This process will help me create new performative and healing works that will showcase both the beauty and splendor of an integral part of my culture. It will also enrich and enlighten those who may not know our histories—both collective and personal. For we are the Ancestors of the future, It's our turn to pass on our stories, our knowledge, and our heritage in hopes that our myths of Us will not go feared and misunderstood. Thank you for your time, attention, and support.

For more information on the organization and programs please click the link below:

https://www.kularts-sf.org