The Healing Force Offers Interactive Ways to Learn About Black Culture

The Healing Force from North Carolina - Combine Music & African Heritage ©Katrena

The Healing Force offers a fun and engaging way to learn about African American culture through song, rhythms, and stories as the group travels to areas all around the globe. This family from North Carolina includes a father called "Baba Joseph" Anderson, Mama Gail, a daughter named Sonji, and son Karim. They will pack up the drums, shekeres, and positive energy and provide a great hands-on learning experience about Afro-American culture in a wide variety of settings, from schools and libraries to zoos and festivals and everything in between.

Anderson Family Performing in Drum Circle in Mocksville NC ©Katrena

Engaging Program to Learn about African American Culture

I have had the privilege to enjoy three programs by The Healing Force to date. Each program has been unique, educational, and entertaining. The family is very welcoming from the start. They seek to make everyone welcome and encourage participants to join in the program. If you ever see this group, you will probably remember them for quite some time.

Fun Ways to Interact With Kids - Drum Circle Program at Davie County Library ©Katrena

Baba Joseph and Mama Gail studied in New York's National Black Theater and acted with the Afro-American Folkloric Troupe before developing their own full-time professional programs in 1990. The personalities of the entire family seem to be made for this type work as participants immediately feel welcome as they are invited to learn in a program offered by The Healing Force. They make many of their own instruments and seek to provide accurate information in their programs. The family has traveled to Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, and many cities and towns in the United States.

Connect With Kids Through Rhythm & Song at Healing Force Drum Circle ©Katrena

I particularly like the way this group seeks to teach with hands-on experiences and interactions. Even the introductions are educational as they tell of their names and instruments that they are playing. They may speak of a country in Africa or a type of drum, ask questions that encourage the audience to think, and then invite everyone to repeat a key word or phrase back to them.

Teach Kids About Black Culture in Drum Circle Program by Healing Force ©Katrena

What is a Drum Circle?

In the drum circle, the group starts with background information about the names of the drums, why they make different sounds, and how to properly and safely play the instruments. They encourage a lot of feedback from the group, giving people time to digest what they are learning. They have a large number of various sized drums in the middle of the circle and then invite participants to select a drum to play. What fun!

Learn About African Drums and Heritage at Healing Force Educational Program ©Katrena

Drum circle participants learn to play rhythms by practicing and copying a rhythm played by The Healing Force. They begin with very simple rhythms and then work up to some more challenging ones with an eye on the ages and abilities within the group. If people miss a rhythm or beat, they encourage everyone to try again...in a nice and encouraging way. A motley group of strangers can quickly learn to connect through rhythms and songs like Funga.

Fun Educational Program on African American Heritage - Healing Force ©Katrena

A few participants might be invited to join The Healing Force and create their own rhythm for everyone to copy. The family provides lots of positive reinforcement for the group in this creative endeavor. My 7-year-old was invited to be the leader during one drum circle program, and she absolutely relished the moment!

Interactive Kids Programs With Traveling Performers in NC - The Healing Force ©Katrena

How to Combine Music and Education

The Healing Force also provides stories of African culture infused with music. The family encourages full participation through singing, answering questions, repeating words, and perhaps by playing a shekere. My family recently was surprised and delighted to see the group at a tribute to the late Jackie Torrence in Salisbury, NC. Mama Gail mentioned that she had known Jackie Torrence – I believe the great storyteller would have been proud of The Healing Force's performance that day.

Connect With Kids in Hands-on Cultural Drum Circle ©Katrena

Visit The Healing Force web site for their calendar, more information on the types and lengths of programs offered, and instruments they offer for sale. I have enjoyed every program I have attended by this group, think they are top notch, and would love to see more programs by them in the future. Find more creative ideas for family activities by visiting the Travel NC With Kids site map.

Everyone Welcome at Drum Circle in Davie County NC ©Katrena