Arts Midwest is bringing the musical traditions of the African Diaspora to Iowa as part of World Fest. During a weeklong residency, Okaidja Afroso and his band will offer workshops for local schools and community groups and will perform live in concert at the George Daily Auditorium on Saturday, October 28th at 7:00 PM.
Oskaloosa is the current Iowa host for the Arts Midwest World Fest, which connects international music groups with rural communities through weeklong visits. In the past year, Finnish and Alaskan Yup’ik groups have engaged 2,700 people in Mahaska County by performing at local schools, bookstores, coffee shops, college basketball halftime games, and more.
Born into a family of musicians and storytellers on the west coast of Ghana, Okaidja Afroso is a singer, guitarist, percussionist, and dancer. Through his distinctive style, Afroso explores the perseverance of ancestral traditions and creates a new, contemporary African oral tradition. His artistry is grounded in traditional dance and rhythms with modern harmonies and updated lyrics.
Okaidja’s visit to Oskaloosa is made possible by a partnership between Arts Midwest, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and the George Daily Auditorium.
