African Dance and Drumming

For the first 18 years of my life, I walked around like most kids from my community. Although I really wanted to make something special out of myself, the images were not there in the inner-city neighborhood that I grew up in. So to make a name you had to be tough, or real cute, I was lucky because I was both. But that wasn’t enough to keep me from the realities of life.

At 18, I experienced a very racist incident, and it changed my life. It made me realize that I needed to know who I was, because the world was judging me based on my skin, not my intelligence.

My search began with African culture and history. I knew that I needed to know my roots, so that no matter what came my way, I could stand sure-footed. I read books by Cheikh Anta Diop, Asa Hilliard, Dr. Ben, Anthony Browder, Wayne Chandler, Francis Cress-Welsing, and Neely Fuller.

I realized that the conditions that I grew up in, in the inner-city were not just particular to my neighborhood, but that they were a systematic technique to maintain an under-class system. That was deep to me…I didn’t want to be another statistic.

Because I was very artistic, I began to study West African Dance. I joined a local group, Imani, and excelled in the movements quite easily and quickly. I was invited to audition for a tour from Detroit, and I went and made it…I couldn’t believe it. I had been studying for less than 3 months and now I would be learning and performing with some of the most dynamic artists in the country. What a blessing.

I took this opportunity very serious, and studied diligently. For the first time in my life, I went to a dance conference. That was the end of my life as I had known it. To be dancing with others from throughout the country, learning my history and culture and representing the greatest of unity…that was phenomenal for me. It was a major part of my transformation.

When the tour was over, I considered coming home, but the company that I had worked with had fallen apart. I decided to stay on the road, and settled in Columbus, Ohio. At that time there were several companies to learn and study with- Imani (Baba Tony West), Orisa (Baba Raymond Sylla), Wonde (Kaikpai Paasewe from Liberia), and another group led by Sista Yvonne Mumin and Brother Hadi (an African-American who has since moved to Africa).

This was my first experience of living on my own and I immersed myself in the chance to study nearly everyday.

After 8 years of study, Baba Raymond Sylla told me that it was time for me to teach. I never saw myself as a teacher, I just loved to dance. That same year, Allasane Sarr, asked me to host a workshop for him. I had never done that either.

Within 2 years, I had developed my own classes and the Midwest African Dance Conference, which is now entitled the International Conference on Dance and Culture.

This event has hosted Kankouran West African Dance Company, Le Bagate, Les Ballets Merveilles and eventually our own company African Soul International. We have featured workshops with some of the top artists from Africa, Assane Konte, Youssouf Kombassa, Mouminatou Camara, Kadiatou Conte, Babacar N’diaye, Babacar M’baye, Abdou Kounta, Dam Gueye, Maguette Camara, Alseny Soumah, Hamidou Koivoigui, Rich Faye, Ebrima Jeng, Mechell Mende, Pap Diatta, Allasane Sarr, and many others.

The event has been held at the King Arts Complex, the Africentric School, Cleveland State University and is now being hosted at Playhouse Square Center, the second largest performing district in the US.

This year’s performance will be in the Palace Theatre and will host nearly 50 performers from around the world, as well as my babies from the inner-city. This company is my ministry, to improve the lives of youth in the community and to expose them to opportunities that they may never have.

I hope that your voyage into dance and drum is as meaningful as mine, and that you use what you learn to help someone else.

God Bless.
Sista Jewel

Sista Jewel Jackson is the organizer of the annual International Conference on Dance and Culture (ICDC). She has studied under many of the major African Master artists and is officially considered a Master Artist by the Ohio Arts Council. She is also a recognized cultural ambassador for the Wolof, Diola, Ballanta, and Mandinka people of Gambia, West Africa, and a member of the Mandinka Music Society. She is the founder/artistic Director of African Soul International and was recently awarded a scholarship for a teaching artist initiative with the Kennedy Center. For more info on African Soul International and the ICDC please visit www.africansoulinternational.org.