African music, dance, and song at the Grange.

By Jon Alden

Everythingwestport.com

Saturday, March 1, 2008 

 

The Kekeli African Drum & Dance Assembly, under the direction of UMass Dartmouth Professor Royal Hartigan, presented a workshop in traditional African drumming and dance at the Westport Grange on Main Road. Royal Hartigan teaches world music at the University’s Dartmouth campus.

 

“My vision in world music and in the UMass music department is that in this 21st century, music, dance, and the arts are one way to unite people in real communities as an antidote to the irrational violence that plagues the planet,” said Royal Hartigan, professor at UMDwhere he teaches world music. “I find that by bringing students to Ghana, West Africa most summers, we change their lives and help them to see the world, their paths, and  their ultimate sense of meaning in a different, more global and universal way,” Royal explained.

 

The historic global movement of African peoples since the 1500s has brought this African sense of community, transcendence, and spirit to many parts of the globe, resulting in new forms of expression shared by people of all cultural backgrounds. These include Blues, Shouts, Clapping Plays such as Pattin’ Juba, Gospel, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Reggae, Rumba, Samba, Candomble, Lucumi, Vodun, and numerous other styles, including much of the world’s popular music since the dawn of the 20th century. The music and dance of Africa is an ancient and contemporary expression that is a humanizing force in our paths through life.

 

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The Kekeli African Drum & Dance Ensemble, with Royal Hartigan, Director; and Kwabena Boateng, Master Artist, explores and shares the traditional music and dance of African peoples through workshops, classes, and concerts throughout the northeastern United States. This Ensemble celebrates that fact that African music and culture are the foundation for much of the world's musical expression, including such diverse African Diaspora styles as the blues, gospel, jazz, ragtime, funk, and hip hop. Members of this ensemble participate in field trips to villages in Ghana, West Africa.

 

       

 

“Most of the Ensemble has visited Africa,” said Tim Sepa, sophomore at UMass. “My own plans are to incorporate this and other cultural experiences in pursuit of a music director’s career at the high school level.” Tim was part of the UMD program providing demonstrations of the African drums from the Ewe region of Ghana.

 

“I’m not exactly sure when in the last 50 years Westport farmers became disconnected from the Grange,” said Ed Horky, Grange Master. “But we are now seeing a resurgence of the Grange as a community meeting place for social and educational activities, and our very successful Farmer’s Market has been pivotal in this renaissance.” Programs like this workshop in traditional African drumming and dance are central in assuring Grange No. 181’s survival.

 

Lauren Falabella (left in picture), a 23-year-old alumnus of UMD, is very straightforward with her opinion: “I love it. It’s my passion,” enthused the attractive, young dancer who works at a Fall River pottery company.

 

“I didn’t have time, between my studies and working, to attend Royal’s African music, drum, and dance classes while at UMass,” said Abbie Chambers (right in picture), a 31 year-old alumnus from Westport. I picked it up after graduation, and have been taking classes over the last few years. Abbie is a designer of women’s clothing, and quite an accomplished dancer.

 

And always there was Royal, moving through the performers and visitors; giving instruction, observing, correcting and explaining the intricate steps, gyrations, and metaphors of the dances.

 

“We performed the traditional instrumental music, dance, and song of the coastal rainforest cultures of West Africa, including peoples from the present day countries of Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria,” said Royal. “The dance drama, which includes the three dimensions of instrumental music, dance, and song, is an expression of events in the life-, agricultural-, and seasonal cycles. It connects people as members of a community and strategizes for success in the individual and collective struggle for survival - the transcendence of physical, economic, and political limitations.”

 

   

 

Drumming, dance, and song are highly sophisticated, complex, and powerful means in oral tradition by which people remember genealogies, recall group history, and maintain personal connections with each other, ancestors, a spiritual realm, and the creator.

“The names of the pieces we performed were: Bawa, a harvest music of the Dagara people; Agbeko, a warrior dance drumming of the Ewe people, and Ghau, a social music of the Ewe people,” said Royal.

 

The instruments used in the Ewe music were: Atsimevu lead drum, Gankogui iron double bell, Axatse gourd rattle, Totodzi small drum, Kagan, small drum, Kidi medium sized drum, and Sogo large supporting drum. Most of these African drums were made from native African woods and calfskin or antelope hides.

 

The Ensemble performed short demonstration, and then the 20+ participants were invited to join in. Previous music and dance experience was not necessary, and the drums were provided. There was a $10 fee, with all proceeds benefiting the Westport Grange Building Fund.

 

“This was quite an experience,” said a smiling Linda Pomeranz of Westport (left in picture) shaking her Axatse gourd rattle. Her friend, Terry Stracqualorsi, from Little Compton, a fellow rattle shaker agreed. They seemed to be enjoying the athletic and vigorous movements of the young dancers from the safety of their seats.

 

For more information on the Westport Grange Building Fund please call (508) 636-4427.

 

Read the article on the Grange’s plan for a new life.

 

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For more information on this program, contact Royal Hartigan at (508) 999-8572, or email him at:
royaljhartigan@yahoo.com

 

Visit his web site at: www.royalhart.com

See their upcoming performances:

 

 

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