African drumming and dance at Discovery museum

The lively sounds of African drumming and dance will fill the Creative Discovery Museum this Saturday, as Kofi Mawuko and his wife Rebekah give a performance and demonstration of drumming and dance from Ghana, West Africa.

“You can expect something a little different,” said Mr. Mawuko. “My wife and I will perform African drumming and dance, but we will also teach audience members some African chants and dance steps. It’s a very high energy show. It will be both educational and fun.”

Two performances are at 1:30-2:45 p.m. and 2:30-2:45 p.m. in the Creative Discovery Museum auditorium.

Kofi Mawuko is a native of Ghana, West Africa who lives in Chattanooga. He recently founded Ogya (pronounced oh jah), a world music band based in Chattanooga. The band’s name “fire” in the Ewe language of Ghana. Ogya has a big band sound combining traditional African beats with other world music.

He began learning traditional African drums and dance at age 10. By the time he was 12 years old, Mawuko was performing as lead dancer and master drummer for the Kyirem Cultural Troupe, a West Africa based international touring company. At the age of 27, he settled in London where he taught Ghanaian dance and drums at local preparatory schools, as well as workshops for the general public. He and his wife Rebekah now live in the Chattanooga. Rebekah, who performed in the 1996 Olympics, writes, choreographs and teaches African and modern dance.

Until Sunday, Creative Discovery Museum is open for extended summer hours: seven days a week, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tickets are $8.95 for children and adults.

African drumming and dance performances are included in the ticket price for the Museum.