 |
| Multitalented Ugandan performing artist Haruna Walusimbi will collaborate with OU student and faculty musicians for three concerts at OU April 10 and 11. |
Sponsored by the Judd Family Endowed Fund, the concerts provide a wonderful opportunity to experience Uganda’s Ngoma repertoire. Ngoma is a Bantu word which expresses the holistic nature of the performing arts. In Uganda, music, dance and theatre are not seen as separate.
Kids Music Concert
At 10 a.m. on Friday, April 10, Haruna will present a Kids Concert in collaboration with Oakland University percussion faculty and students from OU’s World Percussion Ensemble. The show will offer a fun-filled educational performance that will introduce attendees to the music of East Africa. All tickets are $5. Group discounts are available. For more information about the discount, contact Mark Stone at stone@oakland.edu. Tickets can be purchased at startickets.com/events/item/kids-music-concert-with-haruna-walusimbi
World Music Concert
At 8 p.m. on Friday, April 10, there will be a World Music Concert featuring Haruna and the OU World Music Ensembles: Akwaaba, African Ensemble; and Pan-Jumbies, Steel Band. Mark Stone and Patrick Fitzgibbon are the ensemble directors. All tickets are $8. Tickets can be purchased at startickets.com/events/item/world-music-concert-with-haruna-walusimbi
Ngoma!
At 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, Haruna will present his show “Ngoma!” In addition to his work as a performing artist, Haruna is the artistic director of Nile Beat Artists and founder of the Senator National Cultural Festival, Uganda’s largest annual cultural event. He performed a leading role in the film “Throw Down Your Heart,” produced by American banjo legend Bela Fleck, and acted alongside Forest Whitaker in the Academy Award winning film “The Last King of Scotland.” In this final concert of his OU residency, Haruna will be joined by OU percussion faculty and students from the World Percussion Ensemble. Tickets are $14 general and $8 for students. Tickets can be purchased at startickets.com/events/item/walusimbi-ngoma
All three concerts are in Varner Recital Hall, which is located on the Oakland University campus. Maps of the campus are available at oakland.edu/map or by searching for "Varner Hall" on a smartphone. Parking is free.
Tickets may be purchased online without service fees at startickets.com or by phone at (800) 585-3737. They can also be purchased at the Varner Box Office on OU’s campus in advance or before the show. Complete ticket information available at oakland.edu/mtd/tickets.
For more information on OU Music, Theatre and Dance programs and performances, call (248) 370-2030 or visit oakland.edu/mtd.