Caldwell Fine Arts at The College of Idaho kicks off their season in Jewett Auditorium with Okaidja Afroso, a Ghanaian drummer, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.
Okaidja and his ensemble present music and dance that tell the stories of his people and follow their journeys through the disparate lands where they were scattered. As a result, the music draws from multiple cultural influences from the past and the present. The result is a dynamic fusion of traditional and contemporary African rhythms with the diverse music of the world. The concert is a celebration of life, joyous, tragic, and uplifting. It embodies the vast shared human story.
Okaidja was born into a family of musicians and storytellers in the village of Kokrobite on the west coast of Ghana. At the age of 19, Okaidja was accepted as a professional dancer for the prestigious Ghana Dance Ensemble at the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies. He became well known for his energetic stage presence and excelled in his performances of the Ga fetish dances. The Ghana Dance Ensemble gave Okaidja the opportunity to study with the best teachers in the country. In 1997 Okaidja toured the United States with the Ensemble. Later on that year he traveled solo throughout Germany teaching Ghanaian music and dance before moving to the U.S. to join Okropong, a traditional Ghanaian music and dance group directed by Obo Addy.
Caldwell Fine Arts hosts a Concert Connection before the concert at 6:15 pm, featuring a discussion with Dr. Paul Moulton, the World Music professor at the College of Idaho. This mini-lecture is free and open to the public. Dinner is available for $10 for Adults and $6 for Children under 14. Dinner can be added on when purchasing tickets to the concert or purchased at the door. The Concert Connection is held in Simplot Dining Hall at The College of Idaho. The meal is served cafeteria style and features all-you-can eat entrées, salad bar, grill, dessert, and drink. The Cafeteria opens at 5:30 pm.
Tickets $10, $15, $25 for adults and $5, $8, $12 for children under 18 or students and can be ordered at www.caldwellfinearts.org or 208-459-5275.