MAMA AFRICA SCHOOLS RESOURCE

In the current climate moves are being made to make cultural studies more accessible for schools to include in their lessons and educational programmes. The establishment aims are to offer more opportunities for pupils to gain from an equality- based delivery of cultural studies. During this they can learn how people living in different environments navigate the same life experiences that are common to us all

Traditional dances and rhythms is a great foundation for young and older people who want to develop their music and dance skills. We are available to come and take sessions or residencies in your school or venue as we are confident in knowing that Learning dance and drumming from Africa will bring great benefits to children and those who aspire to improve themselves through having an inclusive approach towards self development.

We have found that many children who experience our classes show clear signs of Improvement with coordination, concentration, listening skills and confidence in expressing themselves. All these benefits are delivered In a great fun but focused environment, where children are taught the techniques of dancing and playing the drum, whilst accessing the energy and vibration from this ancient instrument.

Constant exposure to Traditional Dance and Drumming can really help with:

Feeding the right and left-brain hemispheres, helps with confidence, concentration, focus and bringing more happiness to the being.
It helps with mathematics by looking at how the peoples of Africa and other similar continents use or structure their rhythms, choreography, and move their body while playing or dancing. while keeping in often complex time signatures.
Physical and mental wellbeing- The African method of using the dance and drums to maintain one’s body and mind is remarkable and does promote a longer and more fulfilling life.
Complex board games or anything similar contributes to the maintenance of brain power and mental well-being.
Teaching History as the languages played on the drums and at times other percussive instruments can be a record keeper of events going back for centuries in some cases
Teaching Geography through the Migrations of people from Africa to other parts of the earth.
Teaching Astronomy In how records of the heavens and its movement are kept and recorded in various ways through the drum, drawings in sand, caves and rocks, Parchments, Sculptures, and ancient structures.

AFIDANCE UPDATE AND PROJECTS 2022

Greetings Head/teachers of Arts and P.E departments

We hope that this year has brought more freedom and productivity after the last couple of tough years. We have really felt a lot of compassion towards the school children and teachers with the impact the pandemic has created throughout the educational sector. Thank you for all that you do to benefit the children of our community, it is greatly appreciated and we wish you an enjoyable well deserved break this summer holiday.

Afidance are excited to start preparing for school collaborations to commence after the school summer holidays have finished, especially with Black History Month fast approaching. We also have a new offering which will uplift, inspire and promote an inner sense of calm for the staff and teachers of the school.

The last couple of months have been busy - teaching children’s drumming courses right through to performances at the St Paul’s Carnival, Bristol Harbourfest and Bristol Old Vic as well as other community engagements including; a local police project, day workshops for school children celebrating the African/Caribbean community here in Bristol and teaching a 7 week residential courses to schools and a youth centre outside of Bristol.

From witnessing the success of these projects, we have seen how the benefits of our workshops help adults and children from all walks of life to: gain confidence, improve their coordination and contribute to improved mental and physical wellbeing.

Black History Month

We are particularly keen to work with six to eight schools in Bristol for the Black History Month project in the next school term. This opportunity is also open to schools in the other regions, so we recommend booking your place early so as not to miss out. Please get in touch if you’d like to hear more information about our packages listed below.

One-off workshops

6-8 week courses with final performance

Black history month 5 week course with final presentation

Black history month half day immersive learning for teachers Staff and who can also benefit from our skills building sessions which also promote fitness and wellbeing from a traditional African Dance and drumming basis.

Peripatetic teaching - courses with in depth teachings from our experienced teachers to a targeted group of children, for example working with a group of children who have learning difficulties settling into school or children with other abilities, to teach them traditional drumming and dance for the duration of the entire school term

The residencies and day workshops for the school pupils may include:

African drumming and dance tutorials, looking at the traditional styles and techniques.

Live drumming and dance performances in front of peers/entire school/community/theatre shows.

An introductory lecture and presentation to demonstrate the importance of community gatherings in African culture.

We want to teach adults and children how to maintain social cohesion and respect for one another. It is this aspect we want to harness in generating greater harmony amongst communities across the UK.

Our Black History Month Package

Offer one-off workshops over a whole day or half day or 1-5 week residency where you have the choice to host a final presentation at the end of the residency or workshop.

This final presentation can be in front of peers, the whole school or with a combination of all regional schools with invites extended out to parents. If your school would like to host the combined all schools performance for either Black history month or to book ahead for our next Winter project, let us know in your email.

Why choose to collaborate with Afidance?

In a great fun but focused environment, students will learn the techniques of playing the drum and dancing to traditional choreographies whilst accessing the energy and vibration from this ancient instrument and art form. They will learn about teamwork as well as experiencing and embracing their own individual expression.

Our educational workshops are specifically aimed at teaching participants the values of living together whilst celebrating both our differences and our commonalities. This is a unique gift that informs students of important and moral issues faced in today’s cultures, and works with the tried and tested principles of expression, fun, fitness, co-operation, and above all, unity; ultimately contributing to the individual’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Most of our Afidance work is with children, as we know that all of these values are important for their future.

What sets our workshops apart from the rest is the warmth, the laughter, the engaging and sometimes radical information shared.

(More information about packages and specifications can be made available on request)

Staff packages

The team bonding session packages for teachers/staff help to improve mental agility and awareness of mind body connection as well as the relief of stress.

These wellbeing/team bonding workshops promote; positivity, a sense of belonging in the workplace, increased productivity and interpersonal skills.

Introductory training packages using our online resource page for school teachers in preparation for delivering traditional African studies with pupils. These packages help teachers to diversify skills and add relevant understanding to the school curriculum throughout the school year, (as offered in Wales with new inclusive academic year long African studies to promote inclusion and racial equality).

To ensure that your school is allocated a place, we advise you to make a preliminary booking for one of our packages before the end of August as we have contacted many schools in the Somerset region.

To secure your booking, visit the booking page below or send an email

For information and guidance for teachers and students with African studies and resources, visit: www.mama-africa.net created by Afidance founder Norman 'Rubba' Stephenson:

Book any service you require from here or for Immediate confirmation Send email to: kateafidance@gmail.com

rubbaafidance@gmail.com

Roshni Ghar west woodborough st
Bristol BS5 0JD