The African Cultural Festival will be held Saturday at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and feature African-oriented activities, artisans, crafts and an up-close-and-personal visit with two of the zoo?s African animals, a snake and a tortoise.
Bob Klages, owner of the Klages Agency, a company that represents ethnic talent, represents three of the artists that will perform at the festival. Shindana Cooper is an African storyteller, which is called a groit in African. Shakumba Phipps, an African stilt walker, will demonstrate Caribbean drum and dance.
Sankofa Dance Theatre, a Baltimore-based dance company, will perform native African dances.
“Sankofa is an African word that means ?reaching back to move forward,? ” Klages said. “The concept is that people living in the present need to respect their elders and know their roots.”
Kibibi Ajanku is a co-founder of the Sankofa Dance Theatre.
“All of our dances and rhythms tell a story because they are the dances that have been done in the villages for specific purposes for hundreds of years,” Ajanku said.”We make sure our choices are very appropriate not only for entertainment but for educational purposes.”
Ajanku said it?s important for visitors to come to celebrate Africa.
“Africa is such a rich jewel and a treasure. It?s the richness and spirit of Africa being wrapped up all at once. As we perform, we talk about what we do. We are storytellers as well; we weave our pieces together with the magic that storytellers bring, so even the information is entertaining,” Ajanku said.
African Cultural Festival
» The Maryland Zoo in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore
» 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
» Tickets: Free with admission of $10 to $15
» www.marylandzoo.org
