Caneisha, a lesbian woman in her 50s, remains emotionally frozen years after the death of her partner, Lovie. When a family dinner in Lovie’s honor threatens Caneisha’s avoidance, she is forced to decide whether to remain buried in grief or find a way through. Freedom Drum is a dramatic narrative about loss, love, and the rich cultural spiritual traditions that help process it all.
Midwestern Black queer women have served as cultural keepers of African drumming for connection and advocacy. One figure is Detroit LGBTQ+ elder, activist, drum circle leader, and friend to Ruth Ellis, Dr. Kofi Adoma, a consultant to this project. Director Tay Little’s experiences as part of intergenerational drum circles for Black queer women and girls held at Kofi House: Center for Queer Women & Girls led by Dr. Kofi in Detroit helped birth Freedom Drum’s story. Centered around returning to one’s community after experiencing loss, this film involves several Detroit LGBTQ+ artists and elders. Freedom Drum provides a visceral display of using ancestral technology to transform human conditions.
