Ithaca College

Taking place on Friday, Feb. 26, Ithaca College’s annual Black History Month concert will feature songs and dances from Ghana with master musician Sulley (“Soo'-lay”) Imoro. Free and open to the public, the performance will begin at 7 p.m. in Ford Hall in the James J. Whalen Center for Music.

Imoro began learning African drumming and dance from his father when he was 8 years old. His father, also a popular dancer, was well-known throughout Ghana, and Sulley was eager to follow in his father’s footsteps. “Anytime in the village when we didn’t have entertainment, Father would bring the drums out and play,” he said. “Sometimes we didn’t have light in the village, and if the moon was bright, we would come together and play and dance.” Since that time, Imoro has become a renowned performer and teacher of traditional Dagomba drum, dance and song.

Currently the director and founder of the Mbangba Cultural Troupe and the Degara Bewaa Culture group of Tamale, Imoro also teaches the dance ensemble at the University of Ghana at Legon. In addition to teaching African drumming and dance classes in Ghana and the United States, he has performed throughout Africa, Europe and the United States. In Ghana, Imoro and his troupe have entertained numerous high-profile visitors, including former President Bill Clinton.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Debra Vialet at 274-3169. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

For more information, contact Erik Kibelsbeck, coordinator of music facilities and publicity for the Ithaca College School of Music, at (607) 274-3717 or ekibelsbeck@ithaca.edu.