The Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience showcased the rich panoply of African Dance in the third concert of its ethnic dance series on the Newark campus Wednesday, September 26, 2007. Voice of Our Ancestors: Dances of Africa and the African Diaspora, a live performance by Kulu Mele African American Dance Ensemble, took place at 7:30 p.m. in the Bradley Hall Theater.
The longest-lived African Dance company in Philadelphia, Kulu Mele (which means "voice of our ancestors") has built a repertoire that is a blend of West African ancestral tradition and African American creativity. Performances include music and dance of Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Brazil, Haiti, Cuba and African America. The company of 10 dancers and drummers is under the artistic direction of Dorothy Willkie and Baba Crowder (founder and director/Drummer).