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Using a Namibian tale as written in the children’s book Nehoya & The Crocodile by Helvi Itenge, we are creating a musical drama this week with our primary school children. We use a modified Orff-Schulwerk process to develop the story and present the performing arts.
Musical Instruments hanging on the wall outside the concert hall, where the teachers are stretching out and the choir is practicing; all in preparation for this week’s main event, which is teaching children grades 5-7. The performance will include setting the scene for a Namibian Village, where the story of Nehoya and the Crocodile unfolds.
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Setting the scene involved many decisions about staging our story with music, drama and dance. For instance, should it be a village from yesteryear, or should it reflect a more modern and familiar context for the children and the audience? And, should the performers wear traditional African dress, or matching T-shirts or what? And, should we use western instruments like the recorders we are learning to play, or stick to African instruments, like the drums and mbira?
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The drummer above here is Lahia, who’s music creates the perfect rhythms for getting us moving and dancing.
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Photos by Ukumbuavi Muatjetjeja, whom we call Jeremia. |
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I have to get home somehow!
