Community Drumming Whanganui and Moringa Dancers present an African Drum and Dance Workshop with international artist Maputo Mensah, master drummer and dancer. "For me, drumming, dancing, singing and storytelling are far more than entertainment. From my earliest childhood in Ghana, they were how my family and I learned values, spoke ourjoy and sorrow, and connected with community. They both formed our souls and helped us to express them.
When we were happy, we would dance. When we were sad, we would dance. If there was no food, dancing, drumming and singing would take our minds off our hunger. And through everything life has to offer, these arts have helped us create strong bonds with others. That is why I have spent my life perfecting and sharing the African arts, and why I never lose my joy in performing. I know the power of the artistic language of Africa, and having lived this long, I know how much the world needs it," Maputo Mensah says.
Maputo was born and raised in Accra, Ghana, in a family of professional musicians and dancers. While still a small child, he was dancing and drumming with his family, and before he reached his teens, he was teaching and performing these traditional Ghanaian arts.
Later, he studied for many years with Mustapha Tettey Addy, one of Ghana's premiere artists in traditional music and dance, at the Academy of African Music and Arts.
Over the years he has performed and taught with various dance troupes such as the Akrowa Cultural Ensemble in Kokrobite, Ghana, and the West African Folkloric Troupe in Accra. He also has wide experience as an international performer. Currently, he also performs with his own dance troupe, Logo Ligi, based in Boulder, Colorado.
He is coming to Whanganui, making this city part of his 17-day New Zealand visit. On Saturday, May 19, he will be at River City Dance and Leisure Society Hall on the corner of Peat and Pitt streets (entrance on Peat St), from 10am till 1.30pm. Entry is $40. For more information or to book email Jacqueline Brand-Holt at jacquifire@gmail.com
