FOX 13’s Sabirah Rayford to Host Back2Besa Sankofa Theater Special
FOX 13’s Sabirah Rayford at Converge’s Black Media Matters Studio. (Photo Susan Fried)
FOX 13 Seattle Evening Anchor Sabirah Rayford is set to host a primetime special centered around the premiere of Converge Media’s latest film - Sankofa Theater: Inscape Finale. The Emmy-nominated Rayford sat down at the Black Media Matters Studio with special guests, including Sankofa Theater Co-Founder Teme Wokoma, The President of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, Cynthia Brothers of Vanishing Seattle, and Besa Gordon herself. The film itself, produced by Back2Besa host Besa Gordon in conjunction with Converge Media, filmmaker Brady McAtee and producer Winfield Ezell Jr., focuses on the fight to save one of Seattle’s most important Black cultural spaces.
“Within the first few minutes of watching ‘Sankofa Inscape Finale’ you feel how important this space is to the community. It’s not just a documentary—it’s a diary, a love letter, a history lesson. The multi-faceted storytelling is incredible. It’s raw and it’s real,” Rayford said.
Rayford is an Emmy-nominated journalist who has risen quickly through the ranks. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, she recently arrived in Seattle after a stint in Houston. Her warmth and interest in the subject matter is clearly evident through out the special, as she and the guests discuss a variety of issues surrounding Seattle’s Black artist community.
“What was initially proposed as a moderation, turned into two amazing conversations! As a viewer, and someone new to the community, I was eager to dig in-- I had so many questions for Teme Wokoma, the co-founder of Sankofa Theater,” Rayford said. “I also wanted to know how Seattle’s multi-layered past influenced our present day and its impact on the Black arts community.”
Throughout the multifaceted discussion, Rayford said she continued to uncover the layers and history of Seattle’s art scene.
“I’ve learned there’s so much more to learn. This is not just a story about Black creatives. This is a story about space--- uplifting and encouraging self-expression,” Rayford said.
The special also honors the life of Elijah L. Lewis, the Co-Founder of Sankofa Theater, who was tragically killed in April of 2023.
“Speaking with Teme and others in the very space that they worked so hard on was inspirational,” Gordon said. “Obviously there are sad parts to the story but really I want to uplift the work they did and continue to do.”
The special also marks the first time that a Converge Media film has aired on network television. Converge Media’s Head of Production Alaia D’Alessandro said that it’s an exciting time within the company and she continues to be impressed by the work of her team.
"I want to thank Sankofa for sharing their story with us, and FOX for uplifting the work of our team to bring that story to the world. Our production team showed first-hand their commitment to bringing the stories of our community to life, and the film is truly impactful,” D’Alessandro said. “I'm excited for everyone to see it."
The special will air on FOX 13 Seattle at the following times:
Tuesday 2/27 at 7-8pm on FOX 13 (KCPQ)
Saturday 3/2 at 6-7pm on FOX 13+ (KZJO)
Sunday 3/3 at 6-7pm on FOX 13 (KCPQ)
About Sabirah Rayford
Sabirah, an Emmy-nominated journalist, comes to Emerald City from the NBC affiliate in Houston, where she was an anchor and reporter covering a variety of topics, from crime and government malfeasance to features and in-depth interviews with prolific changemakers in America’s fourth-largest city.
Before her time in Houston, Sabirah worked in Florida and Kentucky as an anchor, reporter, and MMJ. While in West Palm Beach, Fla., Rayford spearheaded the NBC affiliate’s racial justice coverage following the unrest in 2020. Her story on the Black Lives Matter movement kicked off a statewide TV special on race relations.
Sabirah is a proud graduate of the University of Kentucky, where she started her career covering sports before transitioning to news. In a groundbreaking moment during her senior year, she made history becoming the first college student to report on air for WKYT, a CBS affiliate.
In 2019, Sabirah received the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award, which is given to distinguished alum of the University of Kentucky in various fields for their achievements and community contributions.
She is a big sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. In her spare time, Sabirah loves reading, and writing poetry and is a barbecue enthusiast. She is looking forward to exploring the Pacific Northwest and connecting with the community.
