Afro-Colombian Musicians on Sixth Street in Austin @SXSW 2013

A group of Afro-Colombian musicians drew a large crowd on Sixth Street on Tuesday night 3/12/13 in Austin during SXSW. The existence of African-derived music styles in Colombia is not well-known in the United States, but there are actually five or six different styles of Colombian music that show the influence of African music and dance, and unfortunately, I could not determine the name for the particular style these musicians were playing. However, the drum rhythms and the way the hand drums were made are unmistakably African.

The New Ballet Ensemble performing at Melrose Stadium for the Pop-Up Arts Festival in Orange Mound 4/29/12

The New Ballet Ensemble and School teaches all kinds of dance, from African to hip-hop, based at the campus of Dunbar Elementary in Orange Mound. Here are some of their students and instructors performing at the Pop-Up Arts Festival in Orange Mound 4/29/12

The second Pop-Up Arts Festival of the year was held Sunday 4/29/12 at Melrose Stadium in Orange Mound. The event was sponsored by ArtsMemphis and featured live music, dance, African drumming, painting, metalworking, jazz, neo-soul and hip-hop, along with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Of course, there was also delicious food and lots of fun. 

The Millennium Madness majorettes and drummers were gathered on the grassy field beside Martin Luther King Jr Avenue rehearsing and performing during Africa in April in Memphis 4/21/12

This extremely young drumline amazed audiences on the Main Street Mall during the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival. African-American drumming and drilling is an integral part of Memphis’ inner-city culture, and it is cool to see it preserved by a squad of young children who sound better than many high school drumlines.