Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Syracuse cultural event explores African dance
By Jieyin Lew
Daily Orange (Syracuse)
02/13/2006

(U-WIRE) SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It was a Friday night with great food, music and a large crowd full of laughter. No, it wasn't happy hour at Chuck's, but rather an evening with Bernard Woma, a renowned African musician and lecturer.

Nearly 180 guests enjoyed the festivities at Schine Underground on Friday night, where the event was held in honor of African Culture Day by the African Student Union and the Association of International Students at Syracuse University. In addition to the fun, guests left with a greater appreciation of traditional West African music and self-expression through dancing.

Throughout the night, Woma played numerous pieces he composed, including one which will be performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Thursday. He also emphasized the importance of dancing and audience participation in African music.

"These two elements go hand in hand," Woma said. "(Through tonight) I hope to give people a taste of the rich African culture through music and dance."

Dressed in maroon-colored African garb and a python-leopard-printed hat, Woma's friendly demeanor and contagious laughter spread high spirits through the diverse audience. There was strong support from the African community, as well the general student body including many American, Indian and Japanese spectators who all cheered and danced to the irresistible African beats.

"It's a very well-composed group," said Prince Nicholas Zu, a graduate student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and president of ASU. The audience was also well-attended by both undergraduate and graduate students, he said.

The mix of cultures was not only limited to the audience, but also shown on stage. Instead of other African musicians, Woma was supported by a group of local talents from Onondaga Community College.

Briana Steber, a second-year vocal major at OCC, said she joined the group because it seemed different but fun and she loves to learn new things.

"(African music) has such a great sense of community," said Mickey Downie, a second-year student at OCC. "It's not just about one person performing but everyone as a group. They really want the audience to have a good time."

Both expressed interest in continuing studies in ethnic music after learning from Woma.

"It adds so much depth to your musical repertoire," Steber said.

"Not one of them are African," Woma said about his group. "But we all speak the same language through music."

Aside from being a musician, Woma regularly teaches and lectures in various colleges in the United States and is part of the Ghana National Ensemble in his home, where he entertains visiting officials and guests of the state.

All of Woma's songs were performed on two types of instruments, the gyil (the ancestor of all xylophones that is made out of traditional woods and empty gourds hanging underneath) and the djembe (beautifully decorated hand drums made from antelope skins).

To everyone's delight, Woma's wife danced on stage throughout the show, with her bosom-shaking, foot-stomping dance move being the most popular.

Many joined her on stage or in the aisles while others clapped hands and let out appreciate shouts and whoops. Woma ended the night by teaching members a crowd-pleasing yet complicated dance routine.

Free food was also provided throughout the night, including rotisserie chicken, sweet plantains and beef beans with rice.

Woma was originally invited by the ASU. He said he immediately accepted the invitation because he loves to promote appreciation of African music and would love to return to SU in the future.

"The ASU is not limited to African students, but for anyone who identifies with the objectives of sharing and promoting the culture of the African continent," Zu said. Current members draw from all over the globe, he said.

"I would really like to acknowledge all the support and tremendous help we've been receiving from everyone," Zu said. The ASU has gone through several setbacks in the past year, and Woma's event was a revival effort to gain back campus-wide awareness and support for the group, he said. "SU is such a diverse community that each of the different elements must be represented, or else the family isn't fully complete."

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