Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee, 73, poses for a portrait at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis on Thursday, March 5, 2026. He has taught African drumming and dance to children since the 1970s.
Liam Jones, 13, left, and Ananzi Jennings, 12, play drums at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Both are students of Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee.
The walls of The Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis,Ìýseen on Wednesday, March 11, 2026,Ìýare lined with photos of people that Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee instructed in African drumming and dance. Sunshine, center in the white shirt, is pictured with two of his students, Gerald “Babatunde†Williams, left, and Weedie Braimah.
Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee, a student of Katherine Dunham, talks about continuing Dunham's legacy in East St. Louis and the importance of passing along the African cultural arts to the next generation.
Katherine Dunham in character for the Broadway musical "Cabin in the Sky" in a 1941 photo. Dunham moved to East St. Louis in the 1960s, fostering a music and dance movement in the city.
Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee, 73, gives a tour of the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis to Ernest Moss, front, Anthony White Jr., center back, and Deonte Croffett on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
The walls of The Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis,Ìýas seen on Thursday, March 5, 2026, are lined with photos of people that Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee has instructed in African drumming and dance.
He grew up homing his wits by tangling with bullies in south St. Louis.
Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee, 73, poses for a portrait at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis on Thursday, March 5, 2026. He has taught African drumming and dance to children since the 1970s.
Liam Jones, 13, left, and Ananzi Jennings, 12, play drums at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Both are students of Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee.
Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee, 73, gives a tour of the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis to Ernest Moss, front, Anthony White Jr., center back, and Deonte Croffett on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
The walls of The Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis,Ìýseen on Wednesday, March 11, 2026,Ìýare lined with photos of people that Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee instructed in African drumming and dance. Sunshine, center in the white shirt, is pictured with two of his students, Gerald “Babatunde†Williams, left, and Weedie Braimah.
The walls of The Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis,Ìýas seen on Thursday, March 5, 2026, are lined with photos of people that Sylvester “Sunshine†Lee has instructed in African drumming and dance.
Katherine Dunham in character for the Broadway musical "Cabin in the Sky" in a 1941 photo. Dunham moved to East St. Louis in the 1960s, fostering a music and dance movement in the city.
