In celebration of Black History Month, we greet February with this program by Cheryl “The Gourd Lady” Thomas. From the comfort of her living room in Crown Heights in the People’s Republic of Brooklyn, she discusses her life’s work, spiritual journey, and pandemic resilience. An original member and co-founder of the acclaimed group Women of the Calabash, she discusses the gourd’s history, musicality, and spirituality. She also demonstrates the sounds and rhythmic possibilities of her favorite shekere after revealing the intricacies of turning a gourd into a musical instrument through carving, polishing, and beading in her home studio.