Nana Akosua Baakan Agyiriwah's video: 2019-07-13 40th Street Summer Series Dance: Yankadi

The 40th Street Summer Series is a beloved concert and dance series that happens once a month, May through September (though shortened to June-August this year). These events are promoted heavily by University City District and Penn. https://www.universitycity.org/40th-street-summer-series. "Voices Of Africa" was the headliners of this event in company with Netos de Kansala and Camara Arts/Tyehimba. This musical selection is called "Yankadi". It is being performed by Camara Arts/Tyehimba Dancers with accompanied percussionists Anssumane Silla, Jan Jeffries, Nana Baakan, Sulayman Nabilla and Baba Zumbi Soweto. Yankadi is one of the most popular Sousou social dances, which is performed in nearly every celebration. Dancers use a handkerchief in this partner dance. The lyrics say, "Don't be angry, we will start soon," asking everyone to join in the festivities. A welcoming song for gathering events. http://www.mandebala.net/references/yankadi.php. VOA as an organization , has been around some 25 years. We have traveled the continental expanse of the USA; appeared in Canada, Jamaica, London, Hawaii, and Ghana. VOA started out as a children's ensemble. VOA has now become an "African Cultural Arts Collective" that works with a variety of committed African Cultural Artist from around the Diaspora. Many of these artists are actively involved in the arts through dance, singing or drumming and lend their time to VOA to give it the professionalism, style and power that comes from well seasoned artists in the field. VOA is exploring its expansion and enjoying the new faces; the new energy; the new excitement and has over the past year been demonstrating this to our audiences nationwide. And while we are not primarily an All Women's Ensemble anymore, we are able to gather up enough women to do a presentation when that is requested. VOA shares the power and joy of its music, which spans the African Diaspora, through traditional African and African American songs, message music, gospel, inspirational and healing percussion rhythms. VOA is available for performances worldwide. Web: www.voicesofafrica.net Email: nanabaakan@voicesofafrica.net Photo Credits: Ben Tran Photography