Press Releases

Naropa University’s Afro-Pop Ensemble to Perform at BaoBao Festival

BOULDER, Colo. (February 24, 2009)—Naropa University’s Afro-Pop Ensemble class will be performing at the 6th Annual BaoBao Festival in Denver and Boulder on March 5 and 7 respectively. The BaoBao Festival is a celebration of African drumming, dancing and storytelling. The Afro-Pop Ensemble, comprised of 16 Naropa students, will be backing up Kofi Mawuko, a singer from Ghana, Africa. This performance is the first in a newly formed affiliation between Naropa University and the BaoBao Festival, which features both local and African musicians.

The new affiliation has altered the curriculum of Afro-Pop Ensemble as well; students now immerse themselves in African singing, dancing and drumming with the intent to perform at the festival. In addition, the students will be appearing on Boulder’s local radio station KGNU 88.5 on Saturday, February 27, at 4 p.m. And, in a lead-up to the BaoBao Festival, they will perform at the Contemporary & Traditional Fashion show at the Boulder Broker Inn on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

The annual BaoBao Festival presents a vibrant performance of traditional West African dance, drumming, music and storytelling. Former members of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble will perform and host a night of performances by the Boulder Pan African Ensemble, Streetside Hip Hop Dance Troupe and more.

The baobab tree, thought to be thousands of years old, is a traditional gathering place in West Africa where community matters are discussed, stories are told, and people dance and drum. The festival, founded in 2004 and held each March, draws on this tradition through its mission to build community through multicultural experiences in the performing arts. It was started by Boulder resident Adjei Abankwah, who was a lead dancer and choreographer with the Ghana National Dance Ensemble for 11 years.

The Afro-Pop Ensemble’s first appearance at the festival is at the Denver School of Arts on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. General admission is $15; discounted admission for students and seniors is $10. Children under 10 are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Their second performance is at the Boulder Theater on Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. Admission is $19 for the general public and $15 for students. Seniors and children under 10 are free. Tickets can be ordered in advance or purchased at the door. For more information, visit www.baobaofest.org.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.