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Leadership through African Arts
Home/ Students / Leadership through African Arts
In February 2007, SRMHS students explored leadership qualities through West African printmaking, dance, music, and storytelling through artist residencies with The Magic of African Rhythm. The multi-disciplinary study culminated in a school assembly as well as a performance at the Black History Extravaganza sponsored by the school's National Achiever's Society for the entire community. The residency and performance received partial funding from the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, Inc., with funds from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency, and Wake County Government and the Wake County Public School Systems. This project also received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts.
This residency and project was one of the highlights of my teaching career. Students and the community had a deeper understanding of the rich culture of East Africa, symbolic meanings of character traits related to leadership, and expressive forms of dance and printmaking. Dance students explored an West African event called a Sensesonunian while the printmaking students explore leadership traits through Adinkra Printmaking. Senesounian is an African annual work/celebration of youth leaders who farm and dance for the disabled elders of the community.
We have received another grant from the United Arts Council for another artist residency with the Magic of African Rhythm. They will be here November 2008 with my 2nd period Art I class. I´m currently looking for a club/ group interested in being part of the residency with a Spoken Word. E-mail me at mharrell@wcpss.net if you are interested.
The Magic of African Rhythm is a cultural arts group listed in the NC Arts Council touring artist directory. Each member of this family specializes in one of the various forms of cultural artistic expression: visual design, dance, song, instrumental, storytelling, etc. They work as residency, workshop and performing artists.
Timeline:
More Information on Adinkra Printmaking
More information about the artists in residence: The Shabu Family from the Magic of African Rhythm.
Teacher Handout to Integrate using this African Arts Project
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Update for 2/5/07: Click on the following thumb-nails for a photo from the first day of our residency.
         
 
The mission of the Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School (SRMHS) is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become leaders in the communities in which they will live and work.
More information about SRMHS Magnet Focus of Leadership and Technology
This project is made possible through grant funding from the following:
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