http://www.onepeolples.com/current/voices.html

STUNNING! These sistas' performance is a Visually, Aesthetic, Artistic, Soulful, Spiritual, Enlightening and of course Educational interaction that any lover of our rich culture would highly appreciate.

I spent a cunningly unique evening out with my mate who enjoys surprising me on “special” nights out. She will cleverly make arrangements for our ‘ evening out ' with every detail in place that includes me NOT knowing or figuring out what the evening will entail other than ‘ going out '.

My mate does “surprise-evenings” on occasion KNOWING how I despise “surprises” but does so with the certainty of her knowledge of the kinds of things I would and would not enjoy and I'm very aware and submit that she does have a keen sense of my entertainment pleasures. Therefore, I never fret that whatever event she schedules for me that I am going to enjoy it. (What my mate doesn't know is that there is a part of me that also enjoys being mentally and spiritually PREPARED for various situations so as I can get the maximum benefits from whatever it is I going to experience).

What do I like? I prefer TALENT above all else. As long as an artist is good at what they do I will enjoy a performance. Voices of Africa have talent beyond measure. I am partial to African Cultural artistry. Voices of Africa are very Cultural not just as a gimmick, but as a lifestyle. I'm a drumming (and guitar) enthusiast. Drumming is what Voices of Africa does along with a cappella. I can appreciate beautiful Cultural sistas who are business women AND artists, like my mate and that the Voices of Africa are. These sistas well represented African culture, professionalisms and womanhood all in one package. My mate was correct; I loved the performance and night out.

My night led me to Philly where I saw the performance of the Voices Of Africa at a small intimate dinner/club. The choral assemble is composed of 5 multi-talented attractive Cultural sistas who drummed and danced as they played, sang ‘a capella' in English and various African languages and continuously switched to various African rhythmic instruments including the Shakeree, bell and a small, flat hand held open-end drum. When the Voices of Africa opened up with their sound, it was if I was listening to a full Jimbe' drum orchestra of variations of West African drums. For real, it sounded like a full orchestra of 10 or more people. Every high, low and all the in-betweens were there in their music.

When they sang, the harmonies were tight and professional and the sistas always managed to explain the meaning behind the songs which made it even more appreciable to listen to the messages of the songs.

The positive vibrations that these sistas' projected throughout the evening ‘forced' even the most reserved (like myself) to join and participate in on their ‘celebration' of our Culture. While listening to them one just HAS to be involved by clapping, tapping the feet or outright getting' up and dancing! Not only were the sista's extremely competent with their various instruments they were additionally seasoned dancers as well.

I could say a lot more about their performance but I don't want to give away any treats of enjoyment one experiences when they get something for the first time and I am appealing to all who enjoy our glorious Culture and can appreciate good talent in a professional performance to go see them live. They have a rigorous performance schedule which makes it easier to not have to wait a long time just to see their performance. At their website they list all the places they're performing and everyone just oughta' check them out.

In their own words taken from their website www.voicesofafrica.net

Drum Is the Ear of God: Africa's Inner World of Music http://www.bmrc.berkeley.edu/people/rhodges/html/Ear.html

We are an internationally acclaimed, all women's a cappella and percussion ensemble. We perform a powerfully unique blend of soul-stirring a cappella harmonies and African Percussions. The instruments we play are the Sekere (Shay-ka-ray), S akara (Saa-ka-ra) and S angba drums and A gogo (ah-go-go) double headed bells). Our music spans the African Diaspora and brings a powerful message about our culture and tradition as African descendant women who dare to play drums. See the Testimonies !!!!!

We are available to bring our culturally rich entertainment to your place of business, school, church, university, community center social and/or cultural programs.

DECACS, Inc., a non for profit organization, is the parent organization of The "Voices Of Africa " Choral Ensemble. We continue to reach out to others who are less fortunate year round, especially to our seniors, and young children in schools around our country and the world. All too often these populations are not able to participate in fine cultural enrichment programming that we offer due to financial constraints. Please feel free to send a tax deductible contribution throughout the year. This contribution will go towards affording these communities the much need opportunity to experience cultural enrichment through our programs .