ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Memorial Art Gallery’s 23rd annual Black History Month celebration has one thing on the agenda.
“[That is] to celebrate culture,” said Annie Dukes, guest program coordinator for Black History Month at Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester.
The best way to do that is through art.
“It allows them to not only hear what we’ve been through and what we’ve been through, but to see it and visualize it, and then they can empathize and say, oh, I understand. “Okay,” Dukes said.
It gives painters, dancers and drummers like African drummer and dancer Mayukwa Kashiwa the opportunity to further that understanding in the best way they know how.
“I’m just here to share my culture and love with everyone. When I play the drums, people come from all walks of life,” Kashiwa said.
Kashiwa, who came to Rochester from Zambia in Africa, will be bringing part of his home to his new community.
“Every night in Africa, this is what we do. We get together, people from different tribes get together. There are 73, 73 tribes in my country, and I’m only a member of seven of them. So we come together and share our culture.”
They also share art that expresses their culture.
“My goal in this country is just to bring everyone together, because when we talk about Black History Month, it’s all about being interactive and bringing people from all walks of life, and that’s exactly what it is for me. It’s the meaning of playing the drums,” Kashiwa said.
It can be seen through drumming, dancing, painting, and any other form of artistic expression.
“Despite the constraints, trials and tribulations, we persevere, grow and continue to excel,” Dukes said.