Alcorn State University to celebrate Black History with West African music

Program will feature
Jerry Jenkins and his drums

Jerry Jenkins will present a program on West African music at Alcorn State University at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Dumas Hall, Room 107, on the Lorman Campus.

LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn
State University will host a West African music program in recognition of Black
History Month at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Dumas Hall, Room 107, on the
Lorman Campus.

The program will
feature Jerry Jenkins, a professional drummer, who will offer a historical look
at African music and give demonstrations of how the music was played. He also
will discuss its value as well as its impact on today’s culture in Southern
Mississippi.

Jenkins’
presentation is titled, “A Look at Mande’ (West African) Culture through
Traditional Music.”

The event is
hosted by the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning and
Alcorn State University School of Arts and Sciences. Teresa Busby, the center’s
executive director, said the program is part of the center’s Coffee &
Culture series. The presentation is free to the public.

“We are
delighted to host Mr. Jenkins at Alcorn State University,” Busby said. She explained
that he uses music to tell an important story and to engage his audiences.

Jenkins is
originally from Chicago. He grew up in Vicksburg, but now lives in Jackson. Jenkins
is a member of the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Speakers Bureau. He also is
listed as a performance artist on the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist
Roster.

For more
information on Jenkin’s presentation, call 601-877-6551. To request
disability-related accommodations contact the Disability Coordinator at least
five days in advance at 601-877-6460 (office) or email at [email protected]