Welcome to the Nia Network: A Program Bureau, a division of Celeste Bateman & Associates. The program bureau features visual and performing artists, historians, writers and motivational speakers of African descent who present in various venues nationally and internationally. CB&A has compiled a roster of extraordinarily talented individuals who are available to perform and present at colleges and universities, performing arts centers, schools, churches, corporations, festivals, trade shows, etc. What makes this program bureau unique is that all of the participants present topics and art forms pertaining to the African Diaspora.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Nia is the Swahili word for ‘purpose.’ Our purpose is to promulgate what is rich and positive about African, Caribbean, and African-American culture, history, heritage and art. For booking information, email us at info@celestebateman.com or call 973.705.8253.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to take on additional artists/speakers at this time, but please feel free to forward your information for future consideration.
Silvana Magda
Silvana Magda - singer, dancer, composer, choreographer - launched her dance career in 1975 performing with the Loni Duro Bahia Dance Company. She toured with Viva Bahia Dance Company and Orquestra Afro Brasileria as a featured soloist throughout Europe, Canada, South and Central America, the Caribbean and the Orient. Silvana toured extensively with the Viva Brazil Dance Company which she formed in 1988. She has taught at Hunter College, Rutgers University and at various schools throughout the boroughs of New York. She formed her Katende Band in 1995 to work with her Viva Brazil Dance Company, combining her love of music and dance. She tours nationally and internationally with her nine-piece band and backup dancers presenting a heavy mixture of Brazilian, African, Caribbean, American funk and Latin rhythms. Her CD, Enzila (“Routes” in Bantu dialect) features funk, calypso, reggae, salsa and lambada rhythms and her most recent release, Sentindo (“Feeling” in Portuguese) features her rapturous lyrics and harmonic compositions.