In traditional African language, there is not a word for “music.” Instead, the concept of music includes a combination of dance, song and visual art, and the vocabulary reflects that.
This is the concept behind the eighth annual AZA! concert, a traditional and contemporary African music and dance concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
“To Africans, music is more than sound,” said Paschal Yao Younge, associate professor of multicultural music education. “Music is drumming, music is singing, music is dance, music is visual –– everything.”
This is why the collaboration between Younge and Zelma Badu-Younge, associate professor in the School of Dance, is a natural fit.
“We don’t have a word for music because music is life. You celebrate life with art,” Younge said. “That’s what we try to bring to Athens for people to see the way Africans view the arts.”
Put on by students, the concert seeks to bring a bit of African culture to OU and show the rich history of African art. Dances and traditions for the concert are taken from places such as the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Trinidad and the Caribbean.
“That’s what really makes us unique because we’re not limited to one particular culture, one particular country,” Badu-Younge said.
The mix of cultures is one of the main reasons Megan Dasbach, a senior studying music therapy, has gone to the concert every year she’s been here.
“Very rarely, especially in southern Ohio, will you get the chance to experience so many different types of culture,” she said.
Many of the 40 students performing have never taken a dance or music class in their lives, but are taught how to play the drums and dance for every piece, regardless of which they will ultimately perform.
“They really don’t have any experience, but they have the enthusiasm, energy and the will,” said Badu-Younge. “We’ll take them.”
Special guests include Samba Diallo and Sogbety Diomande from the Ivory Coast and steel drum artist Eric Fountain. The OU African Steel Drum Ensemble will be joining the group as well.
“People should come and have fun,” Younge said. “Students should bring their moms; before they go out to party, they should come and enjoy themselves and dance.”
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