African Rhythms At Hawley

African culture – song and dance, rang from the gymnasium at Hawley School on Wednesday, February 7 in honor of Black History Month.

The Hawley PTA in conjunction with the Connecticut Commission of the Arts sponsored the assemblies so that students could have a lesson in African culture.

The six member group, Mikata, danced, sang, and played instruments all related to African culture taking the students on a journey from Africa to the Caribbean islands where descendents of Africa brought their culture to the other side of the Atlantic.

Mikata is a word from the language of West Africa, member Richard Hill told the students. It means all of us.

Mikata played and danced to music made by different style drums and gourds with beads wrapped around them that are made by the people of the African community. The students learned that the drums in particular are different in Africa and the Caribbean changing the sound of the tune.

Through rhythms and melodies, students experienced the cultures of Africa, the Caribbean and Brazil during the performance by Mikata showing the students how different areas of the world are connected.