West African music and dance ensemble to perform in Statesboro

Legends of West Africa, a teaching and performance ensemble that includes some of the world’s foremost practitioners of traditional West African music and dance, will come to Statesboro for three different performances Nov. 11, 12, and 13.

• On Saturday, Nov. 11, the group will perform at 3 p.m. on the World Stage in Mill Creek Park as part of the International Festival. There is no charge for attendance.
• On Sunday, Nov. 12, the group will perform at 3 p.m. in the Georgia Southern University Performing Arts Center. Cost is $5 for children 12 and under, $7 for adults.
• On Monday, Nov. 13, the group will present two school matinees, one at 9:30 a.m. and one at 11:30 a.m. at the Performing Arts Center. Cost is $5 for students and parents, no charge for teachers. For school groups, a $100 deposit is required with remainder due prior to the event.

The dynamic performance of Legends of West Africa is rooted in antiquity, but spans time into the modern age. Instruments with origins dating back hundreds of years are paired on stage with their modern relatives. The guitar is played with the n’goni, while the balafon hums its music along side the bolon. Drums drive the sound and create an atmosphere of anticipation and exhilaration. The artists flip, spin and leap across the stage in traditional costumes performing dances that tell stories of village life in West Africa. The audience feels as if they are observing ancient rituals that have become integrated into modern society. The ensemble couples the energy, vigor and enthusiasm of its youngest artists with the mastery, grace and experience of its elders. The artistic team includes renowned Master Artist Mamady Keita (Artistic Director), Master Dancer and Cultural Ambassador Moustapha Bangoura (Choreographer), and Managing Directors Laura Rich (Borenya West African Drum and Dance), Mamoudou Conde and Matt Mueller (World Music Productions, Inc.). To obtain tickets for the Nov. 12 and 13 performances, call the PAC at 912-486-7999.