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Teacher, writer and percussionist Jahruba is scheduled to present "African Drumming and Storytelling" during the Festival of Arts and Ideas March 4-5 at the University of Science and Arts. The Symposium on Africa kicks off the two events on March 4 at 8 a.m. in the Davis Hall Choir Room. The festival is scheduled March 4-5 at 7:30 p.m. nightly in the USAO Student Center Ballroom. Jahruba is an African-American who has been a professional musician for more than 50 years. His music is a unique blend of blues, jazz, worldbeat, reggae and traditional African rhythms.
Discussion
Africa's culture, music featured in two events
It's the second largest continent on the Earth and contains 53 different countries.
In those countries, there are at least 3,000 distinct ethnic groups and more than 2,000 languages spoken. On March 4-5, the USAO Symposium on Africa and the Festival of Arts and Ideas will present a snapshot of this diverse continent.
Faculty, staff, students and special guests at the University of Science and Arts are scheduled to present two events in two days highlighting the development, arts, culture and influence of the African continent.
The look at Africa begins with the Symposium on Africa scheduled March 4 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Davis Hall Choir Room on the USAO campus. This academic forum will lead into the evening with the first night of the Festival of Arts and Ideas at 7:30 p.m. in the USAO Student Center Ballroom with a look at Native African Arts and Culture with music and presentations.
The music and presentations continue March 5 when the festival focuses on African Influence in America at 7:30 p.m. in the Ballroom. All the events are free and open to the public. The Symposium on Africa and the Festival of Arts and Ideas are organized by the USAO sociology and music departments in partnership with Global Action for Aid and Development, Inc. and is sponsored by the USAO Foundation, Inc.
This year marks the third annual Symposium on Africa, a multidisciplinary examination of issues in African development. The symposium will feature speakers from several Oklahoma universities.
"The purpose of the symposium is to provide information on African issues and provide the basis for research to students and members of the Chickasha community," said Stephen Kandeh, associate professor of sociology at USAO. "In a globalizing world where everyone is connected to everyone and everything, in a world where the essence of Africa can no longer be relegated to the insignificant, it behooves us to learn accurate information about the continent."
The symposium features several academic presentations by Africanist scholars. Among them are John Mooney, professor of history at the University of Oklahoma, discussing how Africa’s past can be employed to fix its modern problems; Roger Merkel, professor of agricultural engineering at Langston University, addressing development in Africa as an imperial project; Dr. Ginger Elliot-Teague, professor of political science at OU, examining the role of education as a tool for developing Africa; Betty Harris, a professor from OU, will be dissecting the developmental impact of China’s foreign investment policy in Africa; Abimbola Asojo, also from OU, looking at African architecture as a development asset; and professors Edward and Bernard Manyibe, who will critically inspect the ethical dimensions of African development.
The festival begins Thursday evening with a look at Native African Arts and Culture. Presentations include a traditional African fashion show and a dramatic performance by the USAO African American Club. Teacher, writer and percussionist Jahruba is scheduled to present African Drumming and Storytelling. Jahruba is an African-American who has been a professional musician for more than 50 years. His music is a unique blend of blues, jazz, worldbeat, reggae and traditional African rhythms.
Artist Sohail Shehada is scheduled to present Traditional African Art. Shehada is a professor, Figurative Sculpture Program, School of Art, University of Oklahoma. Melanie Bratcher, a professor in OU's African and African American Studies Program, is scheduled to speak on African dance.
Music for the evening includes Contemporary African Piano performed by Stephen Weber, associate professor of music at USAO. The USAO Concert Choir is scheduled to present Traditional African Music. The Concert Choir is under the direction of Jan Hanson, professor of music at USAO. Concluding the evening's music is a performance of Contemporary African Music by Gloria and Joana Kandeh.
USAO's look at Africa concludes on Friday night with African Influence in America. Tonnia Anderson is scheduled to speak on African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. Anderson is editor of multicultural activities for Crosstimbers and teaches creative writing and English at USAO.
Dan Hanson, professor of music at USAO, is scheduled to present African Influence in Music; while Jeannette Loutsch, assistant professor of biology at USAO, will present African Influence in Science.
Music for the final performance includes Scott Joplin, performed by Rhenada Finch, coordinator of the festival and staff accompanist at USAO; Fats Waller, performed by Joshua Smith, a USAO music major from Blanchard; Duke Ellington, performed by Joe Settlemires, USAO guitar instructor and director of the USAO Showband.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
