Baobab School Outreach - Discover Africa's Civilizations
August 8, 2009
The Baobab is launching its School Outreach program. The program seeks to enhance local access to authentic African arts and cultural educational resources for Monroe County school students.
Through this program, Educational Resource Kits are available to schools, with an assortment of curricular-based materials. We will also host special in-house programs for professional development of teachers in the area of African/African-American Arts and Culture.
Three program areas include:
- Buildings teach us about African civilizations;
- Esthetic expressions - the message behind the symbols;
- Traditions and social practices.
Building Homes with Earth and Natural Materials:
Vernacular earthen architecture is the most ancient folk art. Masonry is passed on from generation to generation as a sacred art. 40% of the world’s population lives in earthen houses. The content in this area focuses on answering these questions:- How are earthen homes built and designed?
- What materials are used for building?
- How does culture and religion influence the decoration of buildings?
- How has building technology spread from Africa to other parts of the world?
Fashion and Decorating the Body:
Symbols, traditional text and patterns are used for group identity and communication. The meaning behind the symbols add to the rich unspoken cultural expression in ancient African societies. The content in this area introduces students to:
- Adinkra, Zulu, Bantu and Nubian symbols;
- Ancient Ethiopian and Egyptian texts – hieroglyphics and coffin text;
- Decorative patterns on objects like Abbia coins and masks;
- Designs and patterns used for decoration on skin and fabric.
Oral Traditions and Tribal Lifestyles:
Africa has been the fascination of the world thanks to its very rich and complex traditions. These are often mischaracterized as primitive due to limited understanding and appreciation for traditional belief systems. The content in this area introduces students to:
- Social structure, habits and what people do for fun and entertainment – traditional foods, music and games;
- Ancient African myths and traditional stories, like the Epic of Sundiata;
- Gender roles in community building.
Programs are available for $250 to $400 per class for a class size of 25 or less. Contact the Baobab at baobab.center@yahoo.com.