“One, two, three” says Ben Ofori to a neat pile of fifth graders sitting cross-legged in front of him at the Eastmont Library. They squirm a little, but mostly stare in wide-eyed wonder at the man in brightly colored clothes.
Ofori teaches the kids a simple West African dance in four steps. He takes them through each step as a group, and gradually adds more movements.
The fifth graders go to E.C. Reems Academy in East Oakland. They’ve come to the library on a Black History Month field trip. Ofori, their guide, is a master percussionist from Ghana who’s teaching them about West African rhythms and culture. Today’s West African drumming event is free and open to the public, so it’s an affordable way for schools with lean operating budgets to celebrate Black History month and teach African American students about their heritage.