Dance the Djun Djun

Here in South Florida, we’re lucky to have access to plenty of Caribbean and Latin culture. So give yourself a taste of the exotic this weekend by checking out the Inaugural African Diaspora Dance and Drum Festival of Florida. But first, learn your instruments. Think of the shekere — a hollowed-out gourd covered in a netting of seeds — as an African maraca, and the balafon as a wooden glockenspiel you tickle with padded sticks. As you might have guessed, there’ll be plenty of drum-bangin’ at this soiree. You’ll learn how to make infectious beats on djun djun, djembe, kutiro, and other African percussion.

In addition to drumming workshops, the three-day festival features West African dance and song classes, yoga, and a seminar on holistic health and HIV/AIDS awareness. This African dance and drum festival will be held at the Little Haiti Cultural Center beginning at noon this Friday and ending at 9 p.m. Sunday. Enter to win two round-trip airline tickets to South Africa, vuvuzela not included.

Fri., Aug. 6, noon, 2010