Dr. Paschal Yao Younge and his wife Dr. Zelma Badu-Younge developed the concept of the Aza, an annual event, seven years ago.
The concert will combine original dancing and music from various African countries, including Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe.
“(Aza) was created to celebrate African arts,” Zelma said.
Dr. Stephen Howard, the director of African Studies at Ohio University, was a primary contributor. The event was created because Howard wanted to celebrate African arts on OU’s campus, Zelma said.
This year, the Aza concert is significant for several reasons. For one, it is listed as an official Moms Weekend event.
The Aza concert also will be significant because of a U.N. declaration.
“The United Nations has declared April 29th World Day of Dance,” Paschal said. Aza will be OU’s answer to the U.N.’s call to action.
The concert will have a special performance titled “The Struggle Ahead — Life is Short.” The composition will pay homage to Dr. Esiaba Irobi, a former associate professor of theater at OU who died at the age of 49 last year.
Aza’s performers comprise various dance classes taught by Badu-Younge and the OU African Ensemble. The performers are not just dance and music majors, though.
“They come from various disciplines,” Badu-Younge said.
One student is Crystalyn Thomas-Davis, a senior studying broadcast journalism who said that preparing for Aza has taught her about African culture and has been a positive experience.
This year, Aza will have multiple special guests who will perform during the second half of the concert. The first is William Chapman Nyaho, an internationally recognized pianist.
The second guest is a group called Azaguno, which describes itself as a “colorful and vibrant multi-ethnic ensemble,” and will be directed by the Younge family.
“Azaguno is the only international dance and music group in Athens,” Younge said.
The group has performed at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup. Recently, Azaguno was invited to perform at the seventh tri-annual Taiwan International Percussion Convention in May.
Everyone is expecting a strong turnout for Aza.
“We are grateful to Dr. Howard and the School of Dance,” Badu-Younge said.
Tickets are available at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
The concert is free with an OU ID.
cd221907@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCulture
