Courtesy African Musical Arts, Inc.
Can’t make it to the African savanna this summer? Not to worry—the Songs of Africa Ensemble will perform “Sonic Safari” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 24 at Union Memorial United Methodist Church.
The ensemble belongs to African Musical Arts, Inc. (AMAInc), a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote better understanding and greater appreciation of African music. According to AMAInc’s Director of Development Dr. Wendy Hymes, the organization has been in the St. Louis area for nearly 20 years and receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sunday’s concert will incorporate multiple African languages and instruments.
“We call it ‘Sonic Safari’ because it’s a safari for your ears, for those of us who can’t travel,” said Hymes. “You can taste the culture through the music.”
Comprised of eight professional singers accompanied by a five-person band, the Songs of Africa Ensemble has been performing “Sonic Safari” for about three years in venues across St. Louis. Additionally, the group puts on educational workshops in local schools.
“It’s a very eclectic group,” said Hymes of the ensemble. “We teach audiences not only about the music from Africa, but the cultures as well. It’s very interactive.”
The “Sonic Safari” program was recently honored with the PNC Arts Alive Award. One of 17 St. Louis recipients, AMAInc received a grant to promote distance learning between St. Louis-area schoolchildren and their peers in Africa.
Sunday’s concert is part of Union Memorial United Methodist Church’s Arts and Issues Series, which honors a notable African American each year. This year, the series commemorates Sister Mary Antona Ebo, a nun who participated in Dr. Martin Luther King’s civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, AL.
“Hopefully, people will come away entertained and maybe with a little bit more understanding about African cultures,” said Hymes. “That’s really our goal—to expose new audiences to this music so they can appreciate it.”
For more information, visit www.africarts.org.
