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SOLI Festival 2007
Drum, dance festival showcases music from West Africa
A blending of musical rhythm, dance and cultural heritage transformed the diverse crowd that attended last week's Soli Drum and Dance Festival.
Photos by BEN SKLAR/DMN
Orisha Burns (right) danced with other performers from the Ayubu Kamau Sacred Afrikan Drum and Dance Society on Saturday at Old Settler's Park in McKinney. The Soli Drum and Dance Festival featured troupes from Dallas, Austin and New York.
The festival, now in its second year, was organized by Drums Not Guns, a nonprofit organization that promotes peace through drumming. It was held May 18-19 at Old Settler's Park in McKinney.
The festival featured drum and dance troupes from Dallas, Austin and New York, including West African performers from Guinea and Senegal. Drummers from the group Kobushi also performed, using Japanese-style taiko drums. The public was able to participate in drum and dance classes. The event ended with a community drum circle in which everyone took part.
"The professional performers donated their services, which says a lot about their generous spirit. What is neat about West African music is the rhythm at the root of so much music like rap or rock. West African music has a spiritual quality. Participating in a drum circle is a communal thing to do that lifts us a little higher," said Randy Harp, executive director of the festival and community outreach coordinator.
The festival attracted approximately 250 people, young and old, from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Moussa Diabate, one of the artists at the festival, is a dancer, drummer and musician. He has toured Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States, where he has played on Broadway.
"I taught two African dance classes, which are high energy with movements as well as live drummers. I also did a performance with some of my dancers sharing the history and tradition of Africa."
Drums Not Guns was formed by Happy Shel in 1994 as a means for spreading peace and stopping violence. The organization is devoted to providing youth with creative ways to diffuse anger and build team spirit and self-esteem.
For more information on Drums Not Guns, visit www.drums.org.
A drum workshop is offered every Saturday at the Old Settler's Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to noon for ages 10 and older.
Mr. Harp launched the workshop in McKinney after applying for a grant for at-risk youth from the McKinney Arts Commission.
"I wanted to create an avenue for people to learn the elements of hand drums and leading a drum circle. When young people get involved in drumming, they develop a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem. Drumming is something everybody can do," Mr. Harp said.
Bridget Barry Thias is a freelance writer in Carrollton.