N.C. A&T to Participate in 2022 North Carolina Folk Festival

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 6, 2022) – The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) and other North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University auxiliaries will participate in the 2022 North Carolina Folk Festival this weekend with various musical performances, extending an invitation to visit the new University Galleries exhibition and will host a booth in downtown Greensboro to engage with festival attendees. The festival is a “three-day celebration of cultural heritage through music, dance, handmade crafts and food” with a mission rooted in appreciating “diverse traditions and contribute to community vibrancy and inclusivity.”

Friday, Sept. 9

*Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
Performance and masterclass for A&T students from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Harrison Auditorium, N.C. A&T campus

“Kaleta & Super Yamba Band brings the Afrobeat from Nigeria and Brooklyn to their audiences. Ligan-Majek, or “Kaleta,” is a singer and guitarist from the West African country of Benin Republic. He lived his adolescent life in Lagos, Nigeria where Afrobeat was born. For decades, he has toured and recorded with Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Lauryn Hill and more. Kaleta has led the band since 2017, including a performance at the Apollo Theatre in 2019.”

The group will also perform downtown Greensboro throughout the festival. For the full schedule of performances, visit the NC Folk Festival website.

Saturday, Sept. 10

*E. Gwynn Dancers of North Carolina A&T
Modern and West African Dance led by Melanie McLaurin, Ph.D., from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: VanDyke Theatre

“The well-traveled, internationally-known dance company, E. Gwynn Dancers of North Carolina A&T State University, will showcase an array of high energy dances, songs and drumming of Africa and the Caribbean. The workshop, led by professor of dance, Melanie McLaurin, Ph.D., and featuring the talented dance students of the E. Gwynn Dance Company, will demonstrate the Dunham Technique, a vibrant modern dance technique that engages the body, mind and spirit! Created by dance pioneer Katherine Dunham, the Dunham Technique draws on a variety of dance forms, including modern, ballet and Afro-Caribbean. Come to this workshop, ready to connect to your inner dancer!”

*University Galleries Exhibition
“The Beauty Within: African American Art from A&T’s Permanent Collection” runs Sept. 1-30
Location: Dudley Building, 202 University Circle Greensboro, NC 27411

“This exhibit examines the beauty, significance and diversity of African American art. The various artwork spans a century of creative expression in various media, including painting, collage and photography and represent numerous artistic styles from realism to abstract expressionism and folk art. The exhibition will feature North Carolina African American artists Romare Bearden, Vandorn Hinnant and John Biggers; Harlem Renaissance artist Charles Alston; and Alma Thomas, the first African American woman to have her work in the permanent art collection of the White House. The Beauty Within will offer a glimpse into the University Galleries’ vast and important holdings that reflect its long-standing promise to Black artists to acquire and show their work.” 

Additional A&T-related performances:

North Carolina A&T Cold Steel Drumline – Friday, Sept. 9, 6:15-6:45 p.m.
Location: Old Courthouse Stage

North Carolina A&T Fellowship Gospel Choir – Saturday, Sept. 10, 6-7 p.m.
Location: CityStage

*- denotes specific CAHSS and Folk Festival-sponsored events