Darke County Center for the Arts says a world-music percussion program reached public school students in grades 4 through 6. The performance by Kattam covered musical traditions from Africa, the Middle East and India, according to the organization, and used instruments such as the n’goni, balafon, djembe, naffar, derbouka and dhol. A playful monkey named Takoum joined the act, which mixed rhythm, singing and dancing.
DCCA says the visit was part of its Arts in Education program, which places professional touring artists in local schools and links performances to curricula. The organization says the effort reaches every grade level at every public school in Darke County and calls the program the only one of its kind in Ohio and rare nationally.
DCCA also listed a coming lineup: Kattam Drums for grades 4–6, Simply Three for junior high, Aim High Canines for grades 1–3 and Solomon Jaye for high school. The organization said the program will serve 7,600 students.
Support was credited to Maid Rite Sandwich Shoppe, Wayne HealthCare and the Darke County Foundation, among other backers, plus the Ohio Arts Council and Darke County Public Schools. More information is available at darkecountyarts.org.