The performance of Step Afrika!'s show, Drumfolk, blew the audience away with their dancing, vocals, and story-telling!
By Moises Sedano
Drumfolk is about resistance and fighting for what's right. In this case, Africans lost their right to use drums so to fight back, they made music with their bodies.
The performers used their bodies in many ways to make music. They used their feet to make the bass and beat of their songs. The usage of stomping made the beat sound louder and more aggressive while their stepping made it sound more stable. One man even used his mouth to make the music! It was unbelievable! He beatboxed the beat, bass, and much more. Feet and mouths, for the most part, were used the most to make some great songs.
This performance did a great job of building a sense of community as they moved in unison, supported each other, and interacted with the audience. Their dancing consisted of everyone moving as if they were all a part of one well-oiled machine. They performed as a team and not as individuals. Their support for one another was family-like on the stage as they played off each other's energy and enthusiasm. The best part was their interaction with the audience. They got the audience to clap along with the beat of their music and even yell out 'Ok!' and 'Alright!' on the command of those on stage. This was a big part of their performance, the spreading of togetherness through the use of music.
The idea of resistance and freedom were the other parts of their performance that resonated with the audience. The performers would speak to the audience about what was taken from them and the fight to regain their drums. They made it well-known that they were not going to have their beats taken away from them. Other than speaking to us, they used their bodies to create intense music and storytelling that helped us understand their fight and the importance of it.
This is one of the most exciting shows you can catch this year! To learn more about Step Afrika!: Drumfolk, visit https://krannertcenter.com/events/step-afrika-drumfolk.