BY RYAN O’CONNOR
In the Twi language of the Ashanti tribe in Ghana, “akwaaba” means “welcome.”
From Feb. 5 to 9, Bow Elementary students said “akwaaba” to Theo Martey and Steve Ferraris for a week-long artist-in-residence program at the school.
Over the course of five days, the two master percussionists exhibited their skills on traditional African hand drums, taught children to dance and spent time telling stories and eliciting laughter.
“We decided our students would love the drumming and dancing, and we got them here, and they’ve been fantastic,” said music teacher Joanne Willemsen. “Everyone’s been able to participate in some way.
“The kids are loving it. They’re really tuned in and they love to see these guys walking around the school,” she continued. “These guys are energetic, enthusiastic. They’re really knowledgeable about what they are doing, and they seem to really enjoy working with kids.”
Fourth-graders represented the core group of students for the program and presented a live show at the end of the week for parents.
Children in other grades were still able to participate through an opening assembly, dress rehearsal and activities in their classrooms.
Martey is a drummer, dancer and choreographer, who was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. After leaving his birthplace, Martey spent several years making use of his talents in London and around the United States before recently moving to Manchester.
He currently teaches drumming and dance at the Manchester Boys and Girls Club and leads adult workshops at Murphy’s boxing gym, also in the Queen City.
Martey said the experience of working with children is especially rewarding.
“Drumming is a challenge for the mind, to be able to have the coordination and the rhythm,” he said. “Mostly in Africa, we try to play the drums by ear. I try to bring it to the kids the way we do it in Africa.”
Likewise, Ferraris is an education specialist in percussion. He also performs and records African and Latin hand drumming.
In addition to traveling around New England to share his craft with children though artist-in-residence programs, he also teaches at the University of Vermont.
Ferraris said children really enjoy learning percussion, especially those who don’t do as well in school because it’s a different way of learning.
“The kids are fascinated by the sound and the feeling and the vibration, so they’re motivated by being immersed in it every day while we’re here. It becomes a language,” he said. “The drumming is very therapeutic.”
“The drum in Africa is the heartbeat and the vibration,” said Ferraris. “It represents community and unity, everybody working as a team to coordinate the rhythms – first in unison and then in polyrythms, where some people are playing one rhythm and some are playing another. But the rhythms go together like pieces of a puzzle.”