Bright, vibrant colors.
The sounds of drums and soul-resonating, hip-swaying rhythms.
The salty smells of traditional African food, southern soul food, fried fish and chips and grilled corn on the cob.
Unique styles and eye-dazzling fashions on people of all shapes, sizes and colors.
Expanding circles of cheering, smiling faces, surrounding circles of drummers with adults and children dancing within.
Electrifying dancers in elaborate costumes lighting up the stage of the Gilman Opera House.
This was DanceAfrica 2010, hosted annually by the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) for the past 33 years. Entranced as I walked around BAM for an afternoon, my eyes shopped over the colorful and beautiful wares of hundreds of vendors, my ears tuned in to joyous conversations of old friends catching up, new friends making acquaintance and beats blaring from every street corner, and my nose activated non-existent hunger in my stomach every ten steps. I stopped to watch dance and drum circles form, and held myself back from jumping within and showing off the traditions I’ve studied for over five years, instead giving the children a chance to strut their stuff; an effort well worth it that drew a grin to my face.
I indulged in thiebou jeun, a traditional Senegalese dish of fish served with spicy rice and sauce, cabbage, carrots and sometimes other root veggies, as I walked around, nearly bumping into others as I savored each bite.
“Nanga def?” a man stopped me, greeting me in the Senegalese language of Woloff, and then telling me that I was eating the national dish of his country.
“Magni fi rek,” I replied, and then, ”I know, it’s delicious.” We smiled at each other, sharing a love of his culture.
I moved into the shade and air conditioning of the Opera House for a blended performance by the Dallas Black Dance Theater, Pamodzi Dance Troupe from Zambia, the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble, and ending with the mind-blowing hip-hop group Illstyle & Peace Productions from Philadelphia. The costumes of all of the groups were gorgeous, colorful and intricate, especially those of the BAM Ensemble.
Founder Chuck Davis guided us through the show, asking us to stand up and introduce ourselves to the other show-goers around us, to pay respect to the elders in attendance, and making us smile between performances saying “Ago!” A Ghanian saying meaning, “Are you paying attention?”
“Amee!” we replied. Yes, I’m paying attention.
As I left the Opera House, back out on to Lafayette Avenue, I wandered slowly back toward the G train, soaking up the soul and beauty that was present in those streets, thankful that these opportunities exist to share and grow and learn with each other, and fully in love with Brooklyn.
The momentum of the crowd was still building as I meandered to the subway, but I was sunburned and exhausted from sun and fun. I took my happy and full heart and headed for home.
