The mission is unity. The instrument is music.
And in celebration of Black History Month, several students at Cedar Crest Academy in Clarkston are joining forces with Adinkra, an African music and dance company, to bring a unique concert to local audiences.
Adinkra and Cedar Crest students will take the Clarkston High School stage Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
Adinkra, the 18-member group of master musicians and dancers from Ghana and Togo, West Africa, will travel to more than 20 Michigan schools in February.
“We want to share our culture with the children of Michigan, we have a message for them,” Yaw Asiedu Kwakye, director of Adinkra, said. “We want them to come to Africa and meet our children, too. We can establish that bridge by way of sharing our culture.”
Dana Howley, who has taught music at Cedar Crest for two years, said she was introduced to Adinkra through an “African music-in-the-classroom” class she took, and was excited to bring them to her own classroom.
“I wanted to bring (Adinkra) to the school so the kids can experience the process of learning from others of a different culture. I love working with these people. They are so tender, powerful and passionate. It’s an amazing gift to have them work with my kids.”
Adinkra’s performances redefine African music, Kwakye said, bringing unique instruments together. In fact, many of the instruments have never traditionally played together, causing quite a stir in their native land.
In a single performance, Adinkra showcases more than 40 musical instruments from various African countries including Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote Devoir, Liberia, Senegal, Gambia and Mali.
The center of Adinkra’s music is the use of traditional Ghanaian atenteben bamboo flutes. The Adinkra ensemble have developed a new system of fingering that extends the instrument’s range.
One the most spectacular instruments used is the mmenson, a septet of hollowed elephant tusks traditionally attached to the courts of kings or chiefs, whose deep, soulful sound is used to call down ancestral spirits.
Other instruments include the atumpani, talking drums of the royal Ashanti king, the gonje one-string violin and the mystical gyile xylophone, said to be stolen from the fairies for its magical sound.
Adinkra’s style of music is diverse as well, embracing various genres, from contemporary to classical, Kwakye said.
Just like their musical style brings variety together, Adinkra’s main focus is to bring various groups of people together.
“And this is a perfect example of that,” Kwakye said, speaking of the Cedar Crest kids.
Members of the ensemble have been playing together since 1988, and upon moving to the United States regrouped in 1997 and took on the from of Adinkra, which means sending messages.
Howley said she hopes her students are challenged musically through this encounter with Adinkra and hope they rise to the occasion in learning difficult music like this.
“I also hope they grow in their ability to understand people of a different culture.”
Eighth grader Trisha Peters has been doing just that. “It’s a lot of fun. You learn a lot about their culture. It’s very interesting. The music brings everyone and everything to life. You just get with the beat and everyone comes alive. It’s just great.”
Howley invites readers to the Feb. 26 performance. “It will be an entertaining and wonderful thing for the community. You don’t want to miss it.”
Tickets will be available at the door, or can be purchased now through any Cedar Crest student. Cost is $10 for adults, and no charge for students.