Struggling through the moments of heads down, rude behavior, inability to focus and general despondency - I become aware that the struggle is one of the greatest lesson for these kids. From the 17 year old girl with fierce eyes that began each session by saying "I can't do it!" to the boys in the throws of hormonal agony and volatile mood swings the outcome of the week has always been the same.
Girls and boys are separated at the camp and cannot even be within eye sight generally of each other. So when I tell them at the beginning of the week that they will be performing for each other - their eyes grow wide, they slap their knees and toss their heads around, laughing, cringing...some say "no way am I gonna do that!" and some are like "REALLY?! they are gonna be in the same room with us?!"
Depending on how my sessions have been spread out - sometimes there are 2 or 3 kids in each class that were there the previous time. They are usually "sentenced" to 60-90 days.
This session as I arrived there were a couple of girls from before and I walked up to a rousing greeting and lots of enthusiasm where as the boys lumbered in acting as if they would rather be anywhere else - except for a couple of them.
The girls quickly got into it and wanted to learn something hard and challenging.
The boys struggled through several days of vacillating between being uninterested, slight enthusiasm and not getting it with some moments of ahah but they still wanted to do a challenging piece and I would not let them give up.
The third day I arrived all the girls were sitting under a shelter outside and they all looked a little dazed. One of the counselors came over and looked shaken herself and explained there had just been a major girl fight that had exploded very quickly. It took several counselors to pull it apart and a couple of the girls were being treated for minor cuts and injuries. Not sure what happened but the young girl that threw the first punch was taken away and did not return that week.
It was a very tough morning for them all. I asked if they wanted to talk about it but they said "no lets do what we are here to do."
At the last minute I was able to convince some West African artist friends that were traveling and performing in the Charlotte area to come to camp on Thursday to perform for the kids.
The camp came up with some funds to pay them and Wed. night they rolled into town and I had 5 African men staying at my house so that we could all drive together to the camp in Aiken.
Fode, Mohamed DeCosta, me, Aboubacar Camara, Mohamed Soumah, Aboubacar Soumah
Mohamed DeCosta, one of my first dance and drum teachers was one of them. Mohamed was with me the first time I traveled to Africa. While we were there I hung out with his family and spent time observing his culture. Love the man. We have worked together many times over the years and I have the utmost respect for him. His response to most everything is "no problem."
One of the other artists Fode Moussa Camara lives in Charleston and we have come across each other's paths several times. Over the years his demeanor has softened from the very macho African aggressive style to thoughtful, respectful and pleasant. His talent as a drummer is inspiring. Mohamed Soumah, dun dun player - I don't think I had ever met. I thought at the end of the day his intentions may have been for me to go with them... Aboubacar Soumah, young (and "hot" as the girls said) I'd met before was charming and an impressive djembe player. Aboubacar Camara, a griot, was quiet but brilliant playing his balafon.
As these incredibly talented men came into my home late that night and settled onto their mallets on my living room and office floor, their low voices speaking in their native Susu I felt a twing of being disconcerted... Is this crazy? Then I reminded myself of my 10 year friendship with Mohamed DeCosta, his integrity and the trust that I've put in him and I thought - no this is wonderful.
The next morning at the camp The Bothers (their made up on the spot name) performed for my girls and guys and also the summer camp kids that are younger and are usually separated from our kids. My girls got to sit in the front row and the guys had to sit all the way in the back with the younger kids in between. There were probably 75-100 kids in the room. ( I cannot show any of the kids faces...)
They played the first piece and were received with explosive applause and then Mohamed DeCosta asked for volunteers to come up and he led about 15 kids in a dance. It was great and even a couple of the guys got up in front and had a blast. I was a little nervous cause I'd just asked one of the camp directors if it was ok if the kids danced and he shook his head un approvingly at the idea of them potentially getting too wild. I understand that concern. But it was too late and Mohamed had already started the process. THEY LOVED IT. Smiles, laughter, applause. Mohamed led the entire group in song and then they spoke about themselves, their culture, gave words of wisdom about self respect and respecting elders. The kids listened intently and asked great questions.
It was a magical moment for sure.
Afterwards I asked the guys class to stay so we could work on their piece. ( and I felt bad cuz they had to be all the way in the back for the performance) The girls begged to stay as well and sat watching as they struggled through it.
Fode was quick to encourage and to tell them not to give up, to work as a team and with a smile inspired them to do it again. They did and it was much better.
The girls then exclaimed they wanted to do theirs and they switched places.
They got it done and we ended the morning with everyone feeling great.
We decided to stay for lunch and ate the food that is afforded by a very tight budget and apparently little knowledge of what a healthy meal is... fried chicken parts, french fries and canned baked beans, chocolate pudding.... Where is Jamie Oliver????? But as Mohamed DeCosta said, "It is better than nothing."
The next day and last class - they were all stilled buzzed about the The Brothers coming and couldn't stop thinking or talking about them. We ended the week by another performance for each other which went without a hitch.
The turnaround by the guys was what impressed me the most. After whining, complaining, and lack luster practices - their performance for the girls was energetic, fun and full of smiles and a good bit of self conscience butterflies. To hear and feel their excitement, the proud looks on their faces to have them say " I Love this." , for the guy who chickened out at first to sing along and then to jump in and sing and make the girls dance, to have the girls tell me when asked what they took away from this week - the girl that said " I can't do this" said " I learned that I CAN do this and other things if I just try."
All of their comments made me realize they were listening and that I was doing exactly what I was suppose to be doing at this moment an in the right place.
Thankful for that.
