Family Fascination Series Study Guide

Presents

FAMILY FASCINATION SERIES Supported by the Gitlin Family Foundation

Monday, October 13th – Wednesday, November 19th Salvation Army Red Shield Family Residence with Jihan Thomas & Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble Teaching Artists

STUDY GUIDE

DID YOU KNOW? That Masquerades in traditional African societies represent the beauty and the spirit of its ancestors? The masquerade on stilts, known as “Chakaba” in Western African societies and the Mocko Jumbi in other African/Caribbean societies, is actually the spiritual police of the village or community. The Chakaba brings blessings to the festivities, and is also used by parents and elders to teach values of discipline and mutual respect. It is also believed that the Chakaba heals women’s hearts and helps women while giving birth.

The African Drum… has been used to bring people together, communicate, and celebrate and is used for spiritual healing in Africa and many other parts of the world.

The African craftsmen would cut and hollow the drum from the trunk of trees, cut it to a perfect shape to produce extremely wonderful sounds, and cover it with the skin of an animal. They used powerful string, cord or animal skin to tune the drum for different levels of sounds. Certain animal skins would be used for different drums to produce sounds from low to high ranges.

The family of drums that the UAD specializes in using originated in West Africa, and is called the Djembe family of drums. The Djembe drums are said to be the healing drums and can be tuned to many levels of sounds.

Djembe is normally the lead drum and is covered with goat skin.

The Sanbeni is the middle sized drum and is covered with cow skin.

The Doundoumba is the largest with powerful bass sounds and is covered with cow skin.

The Kenkeni with the bell is also considered a lead drum, and the player can produce two different rhythms and sounds. It is also covered with cow skin.

DJEMBE

SANBENI

DOUNDOUMBA

KENKENI

Un-scramble the letters to learn more!

What is that tall thing?

Connect the dots by number to find out!

“The pulse of the drum is the spirit of the _____ .”

Name of UAD’s stilt walker

RAHET 2 1

AASPA

34

32

4 5 13 6

9 8 7

14

10 11

33 12

31

LERMTNODAH

15

30

29

23 22

1 6

EISNABN

28

Largest African drum with strong bass sound

38

36

Lead African drum

Mid-sized African drum

39

37 35

BEMJED

The name UAD uses for Africa

3

40

25

24 21

17 18

NBOUOUDAM

BKAHACA

Masquerade on stilts

27

26 20

19

About the Company The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble (UAD) was founded by Mr. Robert & Mrs. Wanda Dickerson in 1984. They are the directors of the ensemble, along with the dedicated assistance of their oldest son, Jamal, and his lovely wife, Ronsha. This program consists of African Dance, Drum, Masquerade, Creative, Aerobic, Modern, Line Dance and Praise Dance. The ensemble has been greatly blessed with the famous "Pasha" the Stilt walker / Dancer, who has been a member since 1984. The ensemble is based in Camden, New Jersey and is comprised of members from Camden, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Since its inception, the ensemble has grown to be one of the largest professional African Dance & Drum Ensembles in the United States of America. The UAD has also been blessed and sanctioned as the best AfricanAmerican Dance & Drum Troupe in America by scholars, historians and African Djelis (historians). The ensemble strives to be sensational and electrifying with their amazing Stilt Walkers, Dancers, Drummers, Ground Masquerades and exciting acrobatic show. The UAD is a very versatile and flexible troupe who are able to conform their troupe from 44 to 2 performers. They are known for their West African presentations of Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Gambia, Liberia and more. They professionally perform song, dance and drum from many sections & cultures of Africa, such as West, East, South, Central and North Africa. They have performed at many prominent and prestigious events in this country, including performing for and honoring leaders of countries, celebrities, politicians, religious, business and community leaders. They have also been blessed to study extensive traditional and authentic dance, drum, song, language and instruments with Moussa and Tenenfig Dioubate, two of the greatest African Dance & Drum teachers, djelis, and scholars from the best African Dance & Drum Troupes in the world.

WORD SEARCH Here are some definitions that may help you to understand these terms: Ancestral - of or belonging to or inherited from an ancestor (a person from whom one is descended.)

Choreography - the art of composing dances and planning and arranging the movements, steps, and patterns of dancers.

ANCESTORS

DIASPORA

CHOREOGRAPHY

GHANA

COLORFUL

HOMELANDS

COMMUNITY

MOVEMENT

CULTURE

MUSIC

DANCE

SENEGAL TRADITION

Diaspora – the community formed by a dispersion of a people from their original homeland.

DID YOU KNOW… In West African performance traditions, masquerade performers disguise themselves as animals, spirit ancestors, or as other people.

MAP OF WEST AFRICA

West African dance embodies dynamic athleticism and a graceful beauty flowing with rhythm. In fact, dancing is a natural and instinctual way people respond to music—movement is something that is ingrained in us. Similarly, in West African performance events, dance plays a central role and it is common that everyone is motivated to participate. There are few barriers between performer and audience; in fact spectators often become part of the performance by dancing, singing, or clapping. This reflects the importance of making individual artistic contributions to a collective creative whole. Through dance, anyone can express themselves through movement and participate in a West African performance event.

“If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.”

-African Proverb

ROLE OF THE AFRICAN ARTIST The role of the artists in African societies is extremely vital to the community.

Usually the art form is passed down from generation to generation depending on the art form. African arts can be described by its spirituals function rather than its aesthetic.

MASKS Masks play a vital role in African society. They are used to communicated with the spiritual and physical planes. Used during festival, sacred ceremonies and rites of passage.

ART OF THE MASK Most African masks tend to have a geometric shape or patterns infused with the design. These patterns can be interpreted in a complete separate form of communication. Social rank, age or tribe identity can all be told from a mask MATERIALS Masks are made out of a variety of materials such as wood, brass, bone, grass, copper, ivory, pottery, raffia, animal skins and other fibers CHECK OUT THESE NEW VOCABULARY WORDS: Raffia – fibers from the raffia palm are often found on African masks.

Cowrie Shell - a small white shell that has been used throughout the history of Africa as money, jewelry, and religious accessories. Cowrie shells symbolize wealth and power.

Ritual - a ceremony related to religious doctrine or social customs.

Folk Tale - a story passed on by word of mouth rather that by writing. Folk tales are an important part of African culture.

Kente cloth - a patterned woven fabric worn for special ceremonies and occasions in Ghana. Traditional Kente patterns and colors have symbolic meaning.

BAULE MASKS The Baule are farmers who populate the eastern side of the Ivory Coast. They are part of the Akan people, one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, who dwell in both Ghana and the Ivory Coast. These masks were used during tribal festivals and harvest seasons

DAN TRIBE The Dan are hunters and farmers whose territory stretches from the western side of the Ivory Coast into Liberia. These sacred masks were used for protection and as a channel for communication with the spirit world. The Dan people also carry miniature masks for protection during travel.

KOTA TRIBE The Kota are a peace loving people who live in an area that stretches from East Gabon into the Congo. These masks are carved by wood then covered by sheets of brass and copper. This s believed to infuse power to the mask. The word KOTA means bind or link together.

YORUBA OF NIGERIA The Yoruba are an ethnic group that inhabits the southwest of Nigeria and the south of Benin. Their art forms come in variety such as pottery, basket making, beadwork and metal work.

The sacred divination bags are used to store sacred materials for a reading. Only ordained individuals could carry these intricate bags.

ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO TOO!

Check out these fun books on West African countries and their cultures at your next visit to the library: • Retold by Eric A. Kimmel, Anansi and the talking Melon, 1994, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication • Berna Aardema, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, 1981, Scholastic Inc. • Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H. Lippert, Head, Body, Legs, 2002, Henry Holt and Company, LLC • Giles Andreae, Guy Parker-Rees, Giraffes Can’t Dance, 1999, Scholastic Inc. • Pete Seegerès Story song, Abiyoyo, 1986, Aladdin Paperbacks • Maya Angelou, Kofi and His Magic, 1996, Crow Publishers • Ifeoma Onyefulu, A Is For Africa , 1993, Lester Publishing Limited • Jeanette Winter, My Baby, 2001, Douglas @Mcintyre Ltd • Joshua's Masai Mask by Dakari Hru, ISBN-10: 1880000326 A young boy named Joshua is scared to perform in the school talent show until his uncle gives him three special gifts. One gift is an African mask that allows Joshua to overcome his fears and be himself.

• (Adventures in Art) African Masks: Can You Spot the Leopard? By Christine Stelzigand, ISBN-10: 3791318748 A visually exciting art book that looks at over 30 African masks from a variety of African cultures.

Create a dance for an accomplishment in your life.

•What music would you use?

•What types of movements would the dance include?

•What kind of costumes would you use?

•Would you use any props?

•How many ways can you move by yourself? With others?

This is the language and joy of dancing!

Make your own music with rhythm sticks!

• Try drumming with pencils • Do your own movement or the dance you learned with the artists while creating rhythmic sound.

Connect-the-Dots Solution Word Scramble Solution

HEART PASHA DJEMBE MOTHERLAND SANBENI DOUNDOUMBA CHAKABA

It’s Pasha the Stiltwalker!

A Special Thanks To Catherine M. Cahill President & CEO Rhoda Blount VP Education & Community Engagement Lisa Willis Manager of Community Partnerships & Orchestral Affairs Jihan Thomas Teaching Artist Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble Teaching Artist For more information visit www. Manncenter.org or e-mail education@manncenter.org

The Salvation Army Red Shield Family Residence Kelly Devlin Director Holden Jones Youth Services Coordinator and The entire staff at the Salvation Army Red Shield Family Residence for their support of this project!

Robert and Wanda Dickerson Founders Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble Jihan Thomas Visual Artist

The Gitlin Family Foundation