Expressions of African culture brought to life
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
Gordon Nelson is all for celebrations of African culture because he believes people need to know the story behind his ancestors' arrival in America.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Nelson, a 60-year-old information manager who lives in downtown Honolulu, said African-American history deals with both African and American roots, and that most people don't take the time to learn about African culture.
Nena Uche was one of the participants in the "African Cultural Safari" at the Academy of Arts. The event celebrates Black History Month.
"We need to talk about the slavery aspect and how blacks were brought to the United States in the first place," said Nelson. "People need to know the history, not bits and pieces. We lost rights and didn't get them back for over 100 years."
Nelson and his family were some of more than a 1,000 people who spent yesterday on the "African Cultural Safari" at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The event, co-sponsored by The Advertiser as part of Black History Month, brought together, art, demonstrations, games and song and dance to celebrate African culture.
Arranged around the Academy's central grass courtyard, the Safari drew families, students and visitors alike.
"People are not as educated as they think they are," said Adela Chu, an Afro-Caribbean Jazz instructor at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. "There is such a richness coming out of Africa, especially in terms of oral tradition, dancing and drumming."
Chu was one of several Safari participants who took the stage yesterday afternoon to demonstrate traditional African dance.
Dressed in brown and bright orange skirts, with drummers pounding rhythmically away on the stage behind her, Chu and 22-year-old Tai Hawkins twirled and contorted to the music. The women started out at opposite corners of the stage and with matching motions, some subtle, others demonstrative, they danced till they met in the middle.
Toward the end of their dance the pair joined other dancers and moved out into the crowd, much of which was on mats spread out in the courtyard.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
One by one Chu and her troupe convinced spectators to join in their gyrations and soon the courtyard was alive with people trying to mimic the dance.
Daphne Barbee Wooten and Tai Hawkins perform African dance routines.
Stacey Johnson, a 35-year-old mortician, bobbed his head with one of his daughters as they watched the dancing spread. Johnson said he knows his daughter is too young to appreciate her heritage, but he believes it is important that she is exposed to it.
"It's good for her to learn about her culture and why she is the way she is," he said. "It's good to get a little of your own culture and share it with other people."
Darryl Madden, an employee of the federal government, said it was important for his daughters Natalie, 11, and Nadia, 4, to come out and experience a part of their heritage.
"It is just a good afternoon and it is good to see your kids come out and engage," he said.
Nena Uche, a teacher and former journalist from Nigeria, said cultural expression is a key part of self-awareness and it needs to be cultivated as often as possible.
"You draw similarities between cultures and you help re-affirm yourself and who you are," she said.
Hawkins, a massage therapist and landscaper by trade, said dancing helps to open her culture for everyone to enjoy.
"People come out and get information," she said. "We have beautiful songs and dancing."
Gwen Johnson, a retired teacher who gave a presentation yesterday honoring the life and work of Marian Anderson — a contralto singer who in 1955 was the first black soloist at the New York Metropolitan Opera — said Hawai'i's stature as a cultural melting pot needs to be fostered.
"It is important that all the ethnic groups are represented and appreciated," said Johnson, whose rendition of two of Anderson's favorite spirituals spurred cheers from the crowd. "This is Black History Month. It gives us an opportunity to share our culture, the African-American culture."
Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8110.
