In our continuing efforts to bring the best of African Culture to the Madison
community, the African Association of Madison, Inc., the UW-Madison African
Studies Program, and the UW-Madison African Students Association present:

Macalester College African Music Ensemble
St. Paul, Minnesota

Saturday, November 14, 1998
7:30 pm

Mills Concert Hall
UW-Madison Campus

Visit their web-site at http://www.macalester.edu/~music/sm/ to read more and
hear some of their music.

Donation at the door: $3.00 or $2.00 for students w/ID

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The Macalester African Music Ensemble performs traditional African music using a
variety of authentic instruments brought from Africa. These instruments include
varieties of drums such as frame drums,  hourglass-shaped talking drums,
bottle-shaped drums, and cylindrical drums. The drums range in size from as
small as a cereal bowl to a drum 9 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter. Other
instruments include Gyil (xylophones), Atenteben (flutes), various bells and
rattles, mbiras and gourds.

The ensemble performs music reflecting a wide variety of musical occasions or
musical situations in Africa. These include musics used during ceremonies such
as puberty, funerals, music associated with royalty, music that makes social
commentary, children's music, social dances and entertainment.

 The ensemble is a forty-piece group directed by Sowah Mensah,
ethnomusicologist, composer and a master drummer from Ghana, West Africa.

The Ensemble has performed for various audiences. In Minnesota, the Ensemble has
performed at the University of Minnesota, Mankato State University, St. Cloud
State University, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus, and
many primary and secondary schools. The Ensemble has also played at several
churches and community centers, such as the Landmark Center, and on several
occasions for Minnesota Public Radio. In the surrounding area, the Ensemble has
been welcomed at the Universities of Wisconsin at Stout and River Falls. The
Ensemble has toured Michigan, Iowa and, most recently, completed a tour to
Casper and Riverton, Wyoming and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.