Countywide : Drums and Dancers Tell Africa Story

Fransisca Atule Leff and her brother, Kofi Agana, rhythmically beat on drums while shaking and jumping to pulsating tunes Monday as part of a lesson on cultural awareness.

It was their first performance in Orange County. They danced for about 500 students at Century High School in Santa Ana, kicking off school International Week activities in which a different culture is highlighted each day.

Schools throughout the county are holding similar celebrations in an effort to promote appreciation of different cultures, school officials said.

Leff and Agana are natives of the Gowrie village in Ghana, a nation in West Africa. They belong to the Fra Fra tribe and their dancing is a major part of their lives.

The dancing duo and Leff’s husband, Bob, make up Aba-Koma, a performing troupe based in San Luis Obispo that travels to schools, libraries and cultural events throughout the state in an effort to raise awareness about the Fra Fra and their customs.

Bob Leff told stories about tribal rituals and explained the dances as his wife and brother-in-law danced, sang and played several different drums. Each donned costumes native to Ghana.

“You don’t wear shoes when you do these dances because they are meant to honor the chief of the tribe,” said Fransisca Leff, wearing a bobika, kava and sleet (headdress, blouse and skirt). “If you wear shoes, you’re showing disrespect. And since we do authentic dances, there’s no cheating.”

Leff moved to the United States from Africa in 1982. Her brother has been a U.S. resident for one month.

With a circle of about 15 students around them, Leff and Agana taught the steps to the siyakadomowa dance.

“This is the dance we do when the chief comes home after fighting another tribe with his warriors,” Leff said.

“The people--especially the children--in California need to know about this culture,” she said. “That’s why we’re here--to keep it alive.”

Tan Vi Wilson, 14, said he appreciated the performance. “Even though my ancestors weren’t from Africa, this made me feel proud.”

Aba-Koma displayed wooden artwork, clothing, headdresses, musical instruments, a map of the country and the currency used in Ghana.

“When you think of Africa, you think of elephants and whatnot,” said Matt Carr, 18. But the live presentation “gave us a chance to see something we probably would never get to see or learn about.”

Century High Principal Tom Reasin said cultural events such as Aba-Koma’s performance help students learn to respect people of different ethnicities both in school and in life.

He said Greek dancers will perform today, a Mexican banda group will play quebradita music Wednesday, Korean and Polynesian dancers will perform Thursday, and a country-Western band will conclude the week’s festivities on Friday.