Onye's school and camp programs for children have earned him a McDonald's Foundation Recognition Award for Children's Programs. He creates a safe and sensitive environment using drumming, percussion, dance, masks, costumes and traditional storytelling to build self-confidence, support strong value systems, and improve physical grace and motor skills. Students, teachers and staff all join in the activities. Onye encourages participation, spontaneity and creativity in an atmosphere of fun and acceptance. Teacher study guides can be provided in advance.
Onye also offers an Arts-in-Education program of classroom visits which follow a large assembly. He brings his cultural experience into the academic environment and inspires the children with the great potential of learning. Workshops can be tailored for developmentally challenged, visually and /or hearing impaired students. Onye's work with children has been featured on NBC and regional school cultural programs since 1984.
Many organizations fund these events via PTA, grants, community sponsors, libraries and budgets for diversity and African-American History Month.
Assemblies K-12
African Village Celebration
Onye Onyemaechi, Nigerian master drummer and performer, engages students and teachers in a participatory experience of African Village life. His repertoire involves student participation in African drumming, dancing, songs and stories. He uses captivating music, native dress & instruments presented in historical cultural context. All are encouraged to value & integrate their own heritage into their learning & living experience.
Growing Up in the Village
This event uses music and stories, questions and answers to communicate sound values without preaching or blaming. Themes can include learning self-disicipline, respecting elders, communing with nature, listening to your conscience and getting along with others. This assembly is designed to be a follow-up for schools that have already presented an African Village Celebration assembly.
Classroom Programs
African Culture Lecture/Demonstration
Onye shares stories and explanations of traditional Nigerian village life relating to students' modern life. Appropriate for geography, history, social studies and cultural awareness classes.
Educational Experiences in Traditional Culture and the Arts (3 class series)
1) Fundamentals of Drumming and Dancing
Students are introduced to traditional African culture through music, dance and stories of village life. They learn to apply these lessons to creativity, self-expression and quality of life.
2) Rhythm of Leadership
Students learn to relate their experience to body awareness, communications and team building skills. The traditional discipline is used to focus the mind for accomplishing goals.
3) Traditional Wisdom for Life Decisions
Students demonstrate what they have learned and how they can integrate it into their own lives. We discuss cooperative village values, coming of age and being part of a larger community.
Specialty Arts Programs
From Onye's years of experience as a musician, performer, recording artist and choreographer he offers dedicated classes in drumming, dance and mask-making for school arts programs. Intensive drumming sessions and choreography at the high school and college level are available. He is on the roster of Professional Artists in the Schools, Monterey Arts Council, Young Audiences of San Jose and Massachusetts Performing Arts Student Series.
Matching funds available for schools in the Tri-cities of Fremont, Newark and Union City, California. Click Here.
Many organizations fund these events via PTA, grants, community sponsors, libraries and budgets for diversity and African-American History Month.
What people say:
It is with great pleasure that I recommend Onye Onyemaechi's African Village Celebration for your school... With his drums and trunk full of West African culture he brought us back to a feeling of community... Wisdom, love, respect, relaxation and celebration were all qualities experienced by our school during this exceptional program. Nancy C. Mannion, The Discovery Center School, San Francisco, CA
Onye teaches about African culture through the use of dance, music and costumes. He has a magical way of getting an entire high school actively participating with him during the performance. Onye's philosophy emphasizes sound values, respect for others, and the "celebration of life." Onye's assembly positively affected more students and faculty than any other performer we have had here. J. Ross Thayer, Dir. of Student Activities, R. L. Stevenson School, Pebble Beach, CA.
His ability to tailor his program to the audience is impressive... By the close of the program, every student had played at least one African musical instrument, participated in tribal dances and chants, tried on costumes and meditated with Onye. Even the teachers(!) performed. I believe he would be equally successful with elementary, middle school and high school students. Patricia E. Crone, Head of Village School, Pacific Palisades, CA.
February held some significant events that brought our school village together."Together We Celebrate life", was the resounding message that Onye Onyemaechi brought to the Westlake Elementary village. The drums, dance, and community feeling that Onye provided in his assemblies was palpable. It was especially enjoyable to watch teachers and students participating together while enjoying each other's membership in our school village. Clyde Curley, Principal
Dear Onye,
Thanks for coming to our classroom , listening playing from the heart,
Your friend, Savanah, age 7
Foundations: Arts Council of Sonoma County (501.3.c) can act as fiscal agent for grants to Village Rhythms.
Contact Onye to bring his motivational assembly to your school: 707-528-4458.
Two-page full-color Educational Programs Brochure:
