Kazoola Keepers of the Culture Hoodie

By 1914, eight survivors of the Clotilda were still living in African Town: Kazoola, Abaché, Poleete, Olouala, Monabee, Kanko, Shamber and Zooma. When their story was written down, they asked that it be told under their African names, so those names might drift back to their native home and someone there might remember them.

They had been carried across an ocean to a place built to erase them, and they refused to be erased. They kept their language, their customs and their names. Every Sunday after church they gathered at one another's homes to look after the community's business, and they never parted without speaking of home and telling some story of the place they came from.

Keepers of the Culture honors that work and everyone still doing it: the descendants who call Africatown home, and anyone who keeps a history alive by telling it out loud. Yellow on dark green, printed front, back and hip.

The hoodie: Champion S700 Powerblend Hooded Sweatshirt in Dark Green. 9 oz 50/50 cotton/poly fleece, relaxed fit, two-ply hood with a dyed-to-match drawcord and metal grommets, front pouch pocket, ribbed cuffs and waistband, Champion “C” logo on the left sleeve. Sizes S to 3XL.

The print: Faux chenille KAZOOLA lettering on the front, the Keepers of the Culture story on the back, and a Vizionary hip tag at the waistband. The chenille look is printed, not stitched: it's a full-color DTF transfer pressed in Columbus, Ohio, so the design is smooth to the touch rather than fuzzy.

Shipping: Most items are made to order and printed in Columbus, Ohio. Please allow 7–10 business days for your order to ship. Need it sooner? Contact me right away and I’ll do my best to make it happen.