Learning Experience at Buttonwood

Saturday night at The Buttonwood Tree was a learning experience for all who attended. Imakhu and Evan "Worldwind" Smith presented a program of storytelling, drumming and didgeridoo playing that all flowed around lessons of African, Haitian and Jamaican culture. Imakhu spoke of healing drum circles and how one needs to be respectful of the animals who died for the sake of the music. She told of the connection between Haiti and the Celtic people and of the Appalachian/African connection. She cleverly and demonstratively told stories that were handed down from generation to generation to teach their children moral values.
Evan explained to us how the didgeridoo is made and played. He walked around the room to really let us feel it vibrate our bodies. He taught us about the Rastafarian movement and why it started, what it meant and how it's about Oneness and peace. He so beautifully explained all this, including the meaning of "dreadlocks", that one patron of Jamaican heritage remarked how she had never heard it so eloquently stated before.

We also were treated to the photographs of Imakhu's daughter, and the paintings Imakhu created, which they hung for the show. While some were expecting a drum circle, (which this was not), several participants were glad to be invited on-stage to play percussion, fulfilling their desire to drum with others.