Sunday, February 28, 2010 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm All Around This World presents "KIDS EXPLORE AFRICA"
An afternoon of hands-on presentations for children 1-7 years old and their parents and caregivers. Crossroads Music 48th and Baltimore Ave. (in Calvary United Methodist Church) http://www.crossroadsconcerts.org or 215-729-1028 $6 for kids 1-7. Children must be accompanied by an adult (no charge) for the entire event. There is a limited amount of space and advance registration (online will get processed faster than phone) is VERY strongly encouraged. The Inquirer is doing a feature on this event Friday, so you might want to register before that. Jay Sand — guitarist, children's music teacher and dad of three girls (0-5) — created ALL AROUND THIS WORLD music classes as a way to introduce his children to the countries he's visited and the many more he plans to visit with them. To inspire families in Philadelphia to enjoy international cultures with their children, each season All Around This World focuses on a different continent or region. This winter, All Around This World families enjoyed music from Africa, singing songs from 18 African countries in twenty languages. The "Kids Explore Africa" event on February 28th culminates this sequence, celebrating African culture and encourage children and their families to learn about Africa before All Around This World spends March "travelling" to South and Central Asia. In an afternoon of hands-on African cultural presentations for children, South African multi-instrumentalist Mogauwane Mahloele will share African songs and rhythms, Adwoa Tacheampong and Chuckie Joseph of the Mewa-Nsoromma Dance and Drum Ensemble will teach Ghanaian drumming and dance, Adimu Kuumba will demonstrate West African and African diaspora instruments, Debra E. Johnson will tell African folktalkes, Penn African Performing Arts will present African music and dance and Jay Sand of "All Around This World" will share children's songs from all over the continent. West Philadelphia's ADIMU KUUMBA makes West African and African diaspora instruments, including koras, sekeres, birambaos, drums and xylophones, from a wide variety of found objects. While he has to buy his gourds and cowrie shells, he gathers his other materials throughout the city: softwood from abandoned boxsprings on trash day, hardwood from fallen tree branches in the park, and strings from fishing twine left abandoned by the Schuykill River. He's also an accomplished performer and gifted teacher who can pass out instruments and get the whole audience making music too. ADWOA TACHEAMPONG is a vocalist, drummer, dancer & actor who has been performing since the age of 12. She has been playing Afro-Cuban Bata & studying Afro-Cuban Orisha Dance for six years. She currently performs with several companies in the Philadelphia area including PhillyBloco (Brazilian), Voices of Africa (African & Folk), Tambonito (Afro-Cuban & Afro-Brazilian), Leana Song (Afro-Cuban & Ghanaian) and Sonic Liberation Front (Avant-garde jazz & Afro-Cuban), as well as being on call for other musical and acting opportunities. CHUCKIE JOSEPH began his musical/drumming career at the tender age of two with Arthur Hall Afro American Dance Ensemble. Since then, he has performed all over the world with many people and groups including but not limited to: Spoken Hand, Mewa Dance & Drum, La Opinion, Michael Spiro, Orlando "Puntilla" Rios, Alfredo, Coyudé Vidaux, Robert "Bobby" Crowder, Greg "Peachie" Jarmin, Carlos Andalmo, Adama Drame, Mbemba Bangoura, Robert "Bobbie" Artist, Sonic Liberation Front, Alo Brasil, Ana House: Awan D'Olokun (Anabe), Olufemi Mitchell, Ama McKen…and his own father. DEBRA E. JOHNSON tells stories that will inspire the hearts and challenge the minds of children and adults to implement life-long changes within themselves. MOGAUWANE MAHLOELE was born in Storomo and raised in Mamelodi ya Tshwane, South Africa. Craftsmanship and musicianship were entwined in Mogauwane's upbringing. As the son of a musical family among the BaPedi people, his elders taught him not only how to play eight instruments, but also how to make them. He now lives in the Philadelphia area and performs regularly throughout North America, Africa, and Europe. A recipient of the prestigious Pew Fellowship in the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, he has worked with Folklore Projects in Arts education residencies and the Philadelphia Folklore Project's programs Philly Dance Africa, and Folk Arts of Social Change. PENN AFRICAN PERFORMING ARTS is a University of Pennsylvania performing group aimed at increasing awareness of African culture through performing arts and serves as an enlightening experience for both the members in the group and their audience. JAY SAND is a West Philadelphia musician, music teacher, world traveler and often-tired dad of three little girls. His "All Around This World" music classes encourage children and their parents to explore the world by enjoying international children's music, drumming and dance.
