Date: Fri 17-Oct-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-Sounds-of-Africa-drums

Full Text:

Students Listen Intently To The Sounds Of Africa

(with photos & drawing)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

It started today, as it has many times before in Africa, with barefoot dancing

to the rhythmic beating of well-worn drums. But this drum call wasn't on the

African plains, but in the new lecture theater at Newtown High School on

Monday morning, October 13. It was part of a social studies program to teach

students about diverse cultures first-hand.

Students felt the power and mystique of this culture presented by the Sounds

of Afrika. (The letter K in Afrika signifies the Alkebulan -- the seven

foundations or principles which the group illuminated throughout their

performance.)

The rhythmic drumming of the drum call, accompanied by soft singing voices,

does more than gather people together. The age-old sounds seem to play on each

person's psyche making them "less burdened and more focused in their lives,"

explained Kojo Ben Reuben Bey, a member of the group.

Jodi Cross, a senior at Newtown High School, remarked rather wistfully,

"Everyone else's culture seems so much less hectic and stressed-out than mine.

I go ride (my horse) a lot when I'm stressed out, but I'd love to be able to

come up with new beats and rhythms. To get up and dance, and play your drum!"

The group led libations to give respect, thanks and praise to our ancestors,

our elders and our families. The audience responded warmly, and with a sense

of genuine recognition and appreciation of the life-giving values of respect,

cooperation and creativity expressed by the group.

Elders were honored because they have wisdom. "They have traveled the road of

life before us, and we seek the permission of elders to go on," explained

Brother Kojo.

The students were free to express their interpretation of the values of the

Alkebulan. One young man related the Umoja, the unity of people, to "a sports

team."

Brother Kojo explained that the second principle, the Kujichangulia,

encourages people to be "proud their culture, and choose to define themselves,

instead of being defined by others. It is self-determination."

Another student said that the Kujichangulia was reflected in the trouble with

supplanting the Newtown High School mascot -- formerly the Indians.

This is reflected in both sides of the argument over the mascot. On the one

hand the name "Indian" was a name applied to native people by European

immigrants hundreds of years ago, rather than being self-determined and chosen

by the people so named. Yet, Newtown High School sports enthusiasts adopted

the name The Indians . Some students had such a strong cultural identification

with the name that they walked out of school to protest the mascot change.

With the encouragement of Brother Kojo and the other members of the group,

Franchone Fraser, Althea G. Chance and Bryant Chance, students likewise delved

into values of working collectively, cooperating economically, gaining a sense

of purpose in life from your higher self, feeding the living spirit of

creativity inside you, and having a profound faith in yourself and your

elders.

"We live these values. This is the foundation of our lives," says Brother

Kojo. Students seemed to relate to the values, music and people of The Sounds

of Afrika, and left the show wanting more. One student, inspired by the

presentation, said, "That was awesome. I'll be psyched for the whole day now!"

Jodi Cross, another senior, reluctant to have the performance come to an end,

said, "It should be done outside, on a nice day, maybe in the evening. I think

a lot of kids would go. I wish we had more time."

Gwen Parc, social studies teacher at Newtown High School, has already booked

The Sounds of Afrika for the spring semester, on February 23, 1998. This is

during Black History Month. Next year, she will arrange for a longer

performance, at the request of the staff and students who had the pleasure of

attending this one.