ORGANIZATION

Queens Historical Society, an innovator in America’s multicultural education explosion has emerged as a leader in presenting programs that assert the rich royal heritage of African Americans. The Society’s signature play, "Queens of the Nile, Now", written by founder, Sakkara Ingrid Thomas, focuses on the respected role of women by men in ancient African matrilineal societies as an example for boys and girls today. The success of this royal history pageant led to the evolution of QHS’ Crown Jewels Program. This vibrant repertoire includes performances, storytelling, demonstrations and school field trips, including The Festival of African Royalty and Egypt Day at the Pyramid. Adaptable for all stages and ages, QHS’ Crown Jewels Performance Repertoire presents a fascinating exploration into the depth of beauty that emerges from Africa throughout the centuries, covering three thousand years and over five thousand miles of the continent’s history.

CO-FOUNDERS

SAKKARA INGRID THOMAS was inspired to read and write about African Royalty after being crowned the first Miss Black Beauty of Long Beach, California as a student at Long Beach Poly High School (Home of Scholars and Champions). Queens of the Nile, Now reveals stories about African Queens and Kings and helps students understand what life was like for her ancestors before coming to America.  In ancient African matrilineal societies women had respect and equal rights and were thus afforded the opportunity to rule nations.  Her stories, revealed through the genre of the epic poem, focus on this tradition as seen through the lives of eight African heroines. These narratives represent affirming examples of African leadership for young learners prior to the period of colonial conquest.

In 1969 they revealed unique and critical role models to a teenage who had lost the support a her mother at the age of nine due to a massive stroke.  For Sakkara, a young African American teenager, the affirming narratives were a hedge of protection at a most critical stage of adolescence.  Psychologist today recognize cultural literacy and identity as a protective factor against risk. 

A fashion designer by trade, Ingrid created her first hand pleated design in the sixth grade, a Nile blue, box-pleated skirt. Ingrid enrolled at Woodbury University following high school graduation to pursue a career in fashion design. Conversations on couture and culture with her first Fashion Professor, Ms. Sophie Sallah, an Egyptian native, inspired her first high fashion line of clothing, appropriately titled the Egyptian Goddess Collection. Fueled by these initial conversations, she continued her research into the visual styles of Egyptian Queens, which has evolved, into her signature fashion exhibition on African female leaders. 

ADISA MICHAEL ANDERSON has served as the Director of Queens Historical Society, Inc. since its inception in 1989.   Under his adroit directorship he has developed the Society from its signature stage performance “Queens of the Nile, Now,” to a professionally directed cultural arts institute. The Society’s repertoire includes National  Touring Programs, School Art Assembly Programs, Standards Based Curricula and Youth Rite of Passage Programs.  He is the Jali, (Master Storyteller) and Director of  “QUEENS OF THE NILE, NOW  which appears exclusively, annually at the Society’s Festival of African Royalty at the Pyramid Arena at California State University, Long Beach and annually at the University of Southern California (USC). 

Adisa received his BA and MFA in Acting from UCLA’s during the late 70’s. Generations of Black film enthusiast continue to celebrate his portrayals in several film by UCLA’s Black Independant film makers, fittingly called “The Rebellion”. His appearance as lead male actor in Alile Sharon Larkin’s A DIFFERENT IMAGE (as “Vincent”) and in Julie Dash' award winning film, DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST (as “Eli”)  equals the skill, vision and excellence through  which each of these films has come to be recognized. DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2001.