Award-Winning Drum and Dance Troupe to Perform at Wooster March 26-27

Campus and community invited to free public performances by Ghana's Saakumu

WOOSTER, Ohio (March 23) - Saakumu, an award-winning drum and dance troupe from Ghana in West Africa, will be performing at The College of Wooster this weekend (March 26-27). On Friday, there will be an informal reception, during which visitors can meet with members of the troupe, taste some traditional dishes from their homeland, and watch a traditional dance piece known as "Kpanlogo" at 8:30 p.m. in Mackey Hall of Westminster Church House (353 E. Pine St.).On Saturday, all are invited to a collaborative concert with Saakumu and Wooster students at 7:30 p.m. in McGaw Chapel (340 E. University St.). Both events are free to the public.

Saakumu, whose name means "tradition," is one of the leading contemporary music and dance groups in Ghana. Led by master musician Bernard Woma, the group's repertoire includes a range of spiritual, ceremonial, recreational, and contemporary African dance forms. The group is driven by a passion for bringing innovative music and dance to audiences worldwide. They have performed at important governmental functions as well as national and international music and dance festivals.

Saakumu's work also involves community outreach and educational programs in schools and colleges. Their instrumentation includes gyils (African xylophones), calabash water gourds, axatses (rattles), gankoguis (double bells), talking (or praise singing) drums, and various traditional drums such as clay pot drums, djembes, kpanlogos, sogos, kidis, and kagans.

Additional information about the events is available by phone (330-263-2419) or e-mail.