"Sankofa" Clyde Morgan, Artistic Director Extraordinaire..

Funga Alafia

“Sankofa” African Drum and Dance Ensemble, guided by its world renown, Artistic Director, Clyde Alafiju Morgan and accompanied by resilient master drummer Khalid Abdul N'Fally Saleem. These two men have been collaborating annually since Khalid joined the ensemble in 1994, although Clyde came to Brockport in 1985.

To say, “Sankofa” is a well kept secret, might sound kind of cliché but for the most part, there are several factors to really build a case on. Gone are the great ones, Babatunde Olatunji, Aladji Camra, Denizulu and others of that ilk and many do not know their secrets as well. When great men and women walk among us, they will not be the ones to utter their praise, like true artist, they are proclaimed and recognized by the people whose ethos they construct and reflect. These legitimate Griots hold secrets of the past, the future, as well as those of “secret societies.”

For anyone wanting to learn traditional African drum and dance, they would find themselves attending, Brockport College as part of the SUNY system of New York. African drum and dance, has indeed, been taken to the national and international stage and has been recognize as a global form and taught to all nationalities. So, back to Clyde or more appropriately, “Alafiju.” He is a native of Cincinnati, graduate of Cleveland U. and made his professional debut with Jose Limon which you will see him dedicate many pieces, “in memory of.”

His professional work includes, Merce Cunningham, New Dance Group, Robert Joffrey, Paul Sanasardo, and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Studios. Babatunde Olatunji, Sophie Maslow, Daniel Nagrin, Louis Falco, Pearl Lang and Anna Sokolow. He toured West and East Africa, began a second phase of his career in Brazil where he held the position of Choreographer and Artistic Director of the Grupo de Danca Contemporanea da Universidade Federal Da Bahia in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A Fulbright Professorship allowed Clyde to continue international teaching and performing in Haiti, Brazil, and West Africa from 1984-86. Alafiju is steeped in traditional Yoruba culture, as experienced in various countries in Africa as well as being a, “Candomble Priest” in Brazil.

One of the reasons, most Americans know only a little about Alafiju is, we don’t read Portuguese. However, when you begin to research dance in Brazil, there are few names that will come up more often than that of Clyde Alafiju Morgan. If your research interest is in the traditional orishas, again, you will find, “a life time” of contribution.

Now, back to why, Sankofa is a well kept secret, because every year in April, when Sankofa presents its annual student showcase, it is quietly sold out, sometimes before people in Rochester hear that tickets are on sale. It is very common for Clyde to invite several guest choreographers and world talents to share the stage and even post upwards of 80 dancers and twenty drummers and these performances have simply been a privilege to witness. Presented have been, Ghanaian Ewe stick rythms, court drumming, Congo, Yoruba, Carribean, Cuban, Haitian and Brazilian drum and dance of course to name a few. Maybe, just maybe, if you follow the link, right now, just maybe, you will be able to obtain tickets for what is sure to be a tremendous family, couples outing…just maybe.

ayorinde


http://www.brockport.edu/newsbureau/1578.html