Artist We Love: Francis Kofi
| By Stephanie Dickrell |
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(Photo by Marshall Franklin Long)
Age: 49
Hails from: Togo and Ghana
Professional life (paraphrased): I spent 12 years in the National Dance Company of Ghana, taught at several universities in the U.S. including Michigan State University, was the first African performing artist to be awarded a Fulbright Scholarship/Artist-In-Residence at the State University of New York College at Fredonia in 1996/1997, and am currently choreographer and artistic director of Hayor Bibimma African Dance Company, established in Minnesota in 2002
Where he got his skills: I was born in a family with a drumming and dance heritage. My grandfather was chief drummer and composer in our village…So every time he’s going to a funeral or a celebration or festivals, he always takes me with him. So I started playing the drum, since I was born. According to the history … I was born to inherit that talent … Drumming and dance is something that has kept me strong.
The company: Hayor Bibimma means “bring the masses of Mother Africa together”… It’s a diverse group. That’s what I wanted to do, because in Africa, when we perform, we don’t really perform by ourselves. We perform with people, it doesn’t matter where you’re coming from because music has no boundary. We all are one people. We might come from different countries and different ethnic groups and all that. But at the end of it, we all have the same problems.
Difference between African and western audiences: The difference is that, when you are performing back home in Africa, as soon as you start a show, if you’re really good, the audience will be screaming, yelling … it’s a tradition, a way of motivating the performer. But if you’re no good, there’s no energy … people kind of are just quiet. It’s the opposite … Here … the audience will sit quiet and watch you until you finish. If the show, it was good, you’ll see them clapping and give you a standing ovation.
HAYOR BIBIMMA PERFORMANCE:
6/7, Grand Old Day Festival St. Paul
Hails from: Togo and Ghana
Professional life (paraphrased): I spent 12 years in the National Dance Company of Ghana, taught at several universities in the U.S. including Michigan State University, was the first African performing artist to be awarded a Fulbright Scholarship/Artist-In-Residence at the State University of New York College at Fredonia in 1996/1997, and am currently choreographer and artistic director of Hayor Bibimma African Dance Company, established in Minnesota in 2002
Where he got his skills: I was born in a family with a drumming and dance heritage. My grandfather was chief drummer and composer in our village…So every time he’s going to a funeral or a celebration or festivals, he always takes me with him. So I started playing the drum, since I was born. According to the history … I was born to inherit that talent … Drumming and dance is something that has kept me strong.
The company: Hayor Bibimma means “bring the masses of Mother Africa together”… It’s a diverse group. That’s what I wanted to do, because in Africa, when we perform, we don’t really perform by ourselves. We perform with people, it doesn’t matter where you’re coming from because music has no boundary. We all are one people. We might come from different countries and different ethnic groups and all that. But at the end of it, we all have the same problems.
Difference between African and western audiences: The difference is that, when you are performing back home in Africa, as soon as you start a show, if you’re really good, the audience will be screaming, yelling … it’s a tradition, a way of motivating the performer. But if you’re no good, there’s no energy … people kind of are just quiet. It’s the opposite … Here … the audience will sit quiet and watch you until you finish. If the show, it was good, you’ll see them clapping and give you a standing ovation.
HAYOR BIBIMMA PERFORMANCE:
6/7, Grand Old Day Festival St. Paul
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