Enlarge Allen Boyd leads a drumming class at Hampton Park Community Life Center.

Posted: December 10th, 2009 Ayofemi Kirby

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Synchronized claps and heavy drumbeats filled Hampton Park Community Life Center in University City when the Ife Cultural Arts Center's Drum for Community class kicked off Dec. 5.

Each week, students will learn how to play the Sangba, Dununba, Kenkeni, and Djembe drums and explore the foundations of West African culture through storytelling.

“The first few classes are about learning how to play as one drum and not 15,” said Allen Boyd, the program’s resident artist and a master percussionist.

“They’re learning all different parts and elements which are from one rhythm and put them all together to create the whole,” he said. “The sum is much greater than the parts.”

In West African countries, drumming is important in building and maintaining communal bonds, an aspect of the culture program leaders hope to share with participants.

Following each drumming session, students eat together and hear traditional West African stories from Obakunle Akinlana, a Yoruba folklorist and founder/executive director of the Ife Cultural Arts Center.

“We want people to come out of their homes and step away from the television and the electronics and go to the essence of the culture and of the music,” Akinlana said. “We want to bring everyone, grandparents, parents and children and show our community that music and culture really does impact people.”

The drumming and storytelling class is free and continues through Feb. 26.

The Hampton Park community is bordered by North Tryon street, WT Harris and University City boulevards. The community center is at 211 Hampton Church Road.

For more information: April Turner, 980-254-3573.

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