Bowen Island is about to have a great big party filled with high-spirited energy and multi-coloured sights. On Saturday, October 2, African performers MaObong Oku and Kokoma will entertain and dazzle at Bowen Island Community School.
MaObong Oku is from the Efik tribe of Calibar in Nigeria. She left there 18 years ago to come to Canada where she has been a dancer, percussionist, choreographer, teacher and singer ever since. She also works with children with special needs and the elderly.
MaObong is the founder, artistic director, choreographer and costume designer for Kokoma African Heritage Dance and Drum ensemble, a Vancouver-based African dance and drum performance company. MaObong is passionate and exuberant about the healing power of dance and rhythm.
"I use music to entertain and educate people about African culture," she says. "My music is about healing; life; human behaviors; destiny and happiness."
MaObong's mission is to preserve Africa's rich legacy, tradition and culture and to spread the message of love, cross-cultural understanding, harmony, healing and peace.
The word Kokoma means "good life" or "joy and happiness." Kokoma was created in order to sustain and renew ancient rhythms and dances and to simply give people joy while connecting to some of the most ancient beats and rhythms of humankind.
"The feeling I have when I am on stage," says MaObong, "is that even if people can't understand the language, they feel the energy of the drums. The response I always get from people is that they are moved and they feel good."
The fundraising evening is sponsored by the Africa Village Project. It includes a dinner provided by Harmabe Restaurant in Vancouver. In Swahili, "harambe" means "working together in unity" or "let's pull together". The harambe concept is used throughout Africa to initiate projects that require people to work together and pool their resources. In true African style, harambe is also one big party, uniting the community while working together toward the chosen cause. That is what the evening with MaObong and Kokoma is all about.
Members of Bowen's Africa Village Project work in a partnership with those who live in a small village called Okaseni near Moshi in Tanzania.The Africa Village Project Association helps children stay in school by paying for some education costs and assists women by allowing them to become financially independent through micro financing programs. The funds raised at the Africa Night event will go towards alleviating malaria.
As the light changes and summer turns to fall, it is time to dance to a new rhythm. Plan to head down to Bowen Island Community School on Saturday, October 2 to participate in the joy and harmony provided by MaObong Oku and the Kokoma African Heritage Dance and Drum Ensemble. Tickets are $35 and available at Phoenix on Bowen. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit www.maobongoku.com.
