By Avery Harrison
The decision to name GoGo as the official music of D.C. came from “The GoGo People’s Plan.”
This plan’s purpose was to outline “the city’s strategy to support, preserve, and archive Go-Go music and its history,” Thebeatisgogo.com says.
“The Go-Go legislation was first introduced by Ward 5 councilmember Kenyan McDuffie,” Michelle Bailey, the communications director for the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment, said when quoting from “The Go-Go People’s Plan.”
The bill was approved on February 4, 2019, by the D.C. Council.
The #DONTMUTEDC campaign, started in April 2018, was the cause that encouraged DC to create the bill and combat the campaign.
“Today, we’re going to let the world know that Go-Go is D.C.,” Mayor Bowser said on February 19, 2019, when the bill was being signed. “We have to put our shoulders to the wheel to make sure we are creating a real legacy for generations to come.”
In February 2024, Washington D.C. held its fourth annual “Keep the Beat Week,” presented by the offices to celebrate Black excellence and uplift voices that shape the city, according to their flier.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment hosted two GoGo fitness and mindfulness sessions on the event’s final day at Stead Park Recreation Center.
GoGo was created in Washington, D.C., in the 1970s by Chuck Brown, who was honored to be recognized as the style’s originator.
Legend has it that when he was playing with his band, and decided he wanted his percussionists to continue playing between songs. The dancing nerve ceased, according to Washington.org.
The site continues by describing GoGo as a music genre that integrates the styles of soul, jazz, funk, R&B, and gospel into one.
“Keep The Beat Week is about celebrating the official music of DC, GoGo,” said Kennisha Davy, the associate director in the creative affairs office at Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment.
She said this is the fourth annual Keep The Beat Week, all thanks to Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, who made GoGo music the official music of D.C. back in 2020.
Davy said that during the week of Feb.19, the arts-centered office puts on programs and events to support all aspects of the GoGo community.
“This year, we decided to do some fitness celebration with GoGo,” Davy said. “Let’s really be able to get some mindfulness in there and put it to the beat of GoGo because the beat is the same as our heartbeat and the heartbeat of our city.”
Yoga instructor Lili Wilson initiated the event with a stretching warm-up and ended with a sound bath cool down after the GoGo fitness session.
“Centering, grounding, awareness, stability, being in tune with yourself, strengthening your core physically and mentally,” Wilson said, in reference to the benefits yoga and mindfulness have for those who practice.
Having been an instructor since 2015, Wilson believes mindfulness is important, especially starting at a young age. She started as an instructor with kids because she had a daughter.
Wilson also said mindfulness practices are ways for people to connect with themselves and calm down if needed.
“This was fun, and I think that the combo is really cool,” Wilson said about combining her yoga and mindfulness with the GoGo fitness. “I would do it again.”
Kennisha Davy (in the middle) and two other OCTMFE employees at the refreshments table. OCTMFE provided guests with fruit bowls, healthy juices, and corner water, a water brand by Black Alley Band. (Avery Harrison/Howard University News Service)
Rosie Faulkner, a guest at the GoGo fitness 9:30 am session, echoed that sentiment.
Faulkner said she had two favorite parts of the session: learning the GoGo dances and the sound bath relaxation at the end.
She said it was her first time doing a sound bath, and she really enjoyed the energy it gave her.
“I’m really into wellness and fitness, so this one actually fits me,” Faulkner said. “I’m so happy they had this for D.C. residents, so I definitely would do it again.”
