Steph Davis is a critically acclaimed marimbist, composer, and cultural activist whose work explores Black creative expression, culture, and subjectivity. With “The Prayers of Black Folk,” he presents a solo marimba and gyil performance that translates the hopes and dreams of Africans in America through sound. Weaving together the traditional and art music of the Dagara and Lobi people from northern Ghana and people of African descent in the United States and Europe, this music honors, in the words of writer Aaron Robertson in his 2024 book The Black Utopians, “the dreamers who always wanted more than they had—and who did more than just hold on to life, but expanded its possibilities and preserved its beauty.”

Davis holds degrees in Percussion and Marimba Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he also serves as an instructor of Music Theory. The Washington Post has described him as a “crisp, controlled performer” who brings “bright humanity and expressive depth” to contemporary music.

Special Admission Pricing During $5 Third Thursdays

Enjoy $5 minimum, pay-what-you-wish general admission on the evening of Thursday, October 15 (available in person day of, starting at 5 pm). Learn more about discounted admission to the MFA on the third Thursday of every month.