Oxnard : Dancers Drum Up Students’ Interest in African Culture

The Djimbe West African Dancers and Drummers burst into the Juanita School cafeteria by the back door and danced their way to the stage to pounding rhythms.

The four performers appeared at the Oxnard school Friday as part of the Los Angeles Music Center’s program to teach children about the music and dance of West Africa, with a little geography and history thrown in.

“We used the instruments to call attention to ourselves,” dancer Owanda Johnson told the children.

“It is called a drum call, and we are here to share African culture with you.”

Johnson and Yosheh Martin danced a spiritual healing ceremony accompanied by drummers Malang Bayo of Senegal and Anindo Abukutsa of Kenya.

The schoolchildren learned the words to an African song while 20 students, teachers and Principal Tony Zubia frolicked with the performers on the stage.

One of the highlights of the performance, funded by the Juanita School Site Council, was Bayo’s demonstration of the way the djimbe drum “talks,” depending on how he hits the drumhead.

“This is the phone of Africa,” Bayo said in halting English.

“It tells when is the dance and where is the fire.”