From the moment the students quietly sat down, the drums called out from the stage and got them moving! The children spontaneously clapped and bopped in time to the rhythms—the faster the beats, the bigger their smiles!
The three visiting artists of Ferama invited students to learn about West Africa through its rich traditions of music and dance. The enrichment was arranged for by the KES PTO as an experiential celebration of Black History Month.
“
Are you ready to help us?” called out one of the drummers, wearing a tunic of vibrant yellow African cloth.
“YES!” the students replied. Some students received shakers to echo the drummers’ rhythms; others were invited onto the stage to try out new dance moves.
The students were used to listening to and repeating sound patterns—teachers often clap a sequence for students to mimic as a way of drawing their attention. They also play call and response games of rhythm and melody with music teachers.
In these ways, they were well prepared to follow Ferama’s beat on the dundun and djembe—African drums made of wood and animal skins.
Beyond creating a beat, the students learned that drums were a method of communication. “The people in the village knew the patterns,” said one of the performers. “They could listen and know that a baby had been born, for instance.”
She surprised the students by tap dancing. “They play with their hands,” she said. “I play with my feet.”
The last instrument students learned about was the bala. It was like a xylophone, with a gourd at the back of each key to amplify the sound. Ferama brought dozens of students on stage to follow the beat with shakers, and a sound bath on the bala and djembe washed over the auditorium.
Earlier in the show, the performers told the students, “Ferama is a word from Guinea, in West Africa. It means to do something to make people happy.” Ferama!