The University of Nebraska at Kearney will host an immersive day of African music and culture Jan. 17, featuring master drummer and ethnomusicologist Sowah Mensah and the Macalester College African Music Ensemble, (UNK, Courtesy)
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney will host an immersive day of African music and culture Jan. 17, featuring master drummer and ethnomusicologist Sowah Mensah and the Macalester College African Music Ensemble.
The visit includes a workshop from 1 to 2 p.m. and an evening concert from 6 to 7:30 p.m., both taking place in the Fine Arts Recital Hall on campus. A reception will follow the performance. All events are free and open to the public.
During the afternoon workshop, Mensah will lead participants through musical traditions from Ghana, Guinea and Zimbabwe, offering insight into rhythms, instruments and cultural contexts that shape West African music.
The evening concert will feature Mensah alongside the 30-piece Macalester College African Music Ensemble. Founded in 1987 and directed by Mensah, the ensemble performs music primarily from Ghana while also drawing from traditions across Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Guinea, The Gambia, Kenya and Tanzania.
The group features vocalists and a wide range of African instruments, including drums, gourds, xylophones, marimbas, flutes and horns. In addition to campus performances, the ensemble regularly tours schools and communities across the United States, reaching thousands of people each year.
Mensah is an internationally recognized performer, composer and educator from Ghana, West Africa. He currently teaches at Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and directs African music ensembles at multiple institutions. He’s performed at venues across the globe, including Carnegie Hall, and collaborated with major orchestras and renowned jazz musicians.
