The mighty beating of drums at Triton College campus last week marked start of a celebration of music from around the world.
The drumming group is called Kaben Kafo, which means “let’s play together” in the Malinke language spoken in West Africa. The group, made up of six members, performed outside on Triton College’s campus Sept. 15.
Joann Cho, a music teacher at the college, said she reached out to the group to be the first act in a series of World Music performances at the college. She organized the performances with the college’s student-run Program Board, in an effort to bring new musical performances to the college that students might not be aware of.
“I just feel like a World Music Series will connect with our students and faculty as well,” she said. “I wanted to do something that connected the campus together and make it free and accessible to the community.”
She added that the diversity in the music series also would compliment the diversity of the college’s student body. There will be three other World Music Series performances running into 2016.
Essence Finley, 18, of Bellwood and her friend Barry Williams, 18, both freshmen, sat in the grass under the shade of a tree to enjoy the event. Curiosity brought them outside.
“We were sitting in the lunch room and saw these guys walking past and we said ‘let’s be nosey,'” she said.
The two were among about 50 people who sat in the area called “the mound” just north of the college’s B Building to see the drumming group perform.
Mimi Sam, who is in her first year at Triton College, enjoyed it as well.
“I think it’s really really cool,” she said as her friend took photos with a cellphone. “I think it’s beneficial for people see this and it actually opens the door for people to actually join a drum circle.”
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Devin Robinson, 18, of Chicago, said he was a member of his high school band and loves music, so he decided to come out and check it out.
“Music has been a big part of my life, so it’s good to check different forms of music out,” he said.
Michael Taylor, of Oak Park, who heads Kaben Kafo, said the group aims to promote peace and tolerance through their music. He has been drumming since he was 21 and is also a drumming instructor.
Between each drum performance, he would explain to the audience the African roots behind each performance.
Cho said the World Music Series is all about musical access.
“I wanted to bring that to the western suburbs, so they can have access to this music as well,” she said.
Three more dates have been scheduled for the World Music Series this school year:
* At 12 p.m. Nov. 4, Allos Musica, a Middle-Eastern ensemble, will perform in the college’s Student Center. Allos Musica explores the intersection of divergent streams of contemporary, classical, jazz and traditional music from the Middle East and Europe. The performance will be preceded by a workshop at 11 a.m.
* At 12 p.m. Feb. 15, Thai Chi Entertainment, a Thai music and dance ensemble, will perfume in the college’s Student Center. The Chicago-based Thai ensemble will perform chamber music with vocal and dance performances, along with regional folk music and dances of Thailand.
* At 12 p.m. April 25, Choro de La pra Ca, a Brazilian quartet, will perform in the Student Center. The group will perform a mix of bossa nova, samba, choro and jazz.
Twitter: @DavidDPollard