Celebrate
Black History Month at the Glendale Public Library with events showcasing the richness of African culture.
Decoding African Prints: These Clothes Speak! Encounter a dazzling display of African fabrics and clothing, each telling a unique story through colors, patterns, profound cultural meanings and craftsmanship. Explore textiles like Ankara, Kente, Isi Agu, and more, gaining insights into their historical and regional significance. Then you can make your own African head wrap and learn how to tie it. All materials will be provided. This program is for adults, ages 18 and up. No children will be allowed due to
the presence of sharp objects and choking hazards. Please register for only one session.
Saturday, February 3, 10:30 AM-12 PM (session 1) or 2:30-4 PM (session 2). Heroes Regional Park Library Yucca Room.
Register for session 1 or session 2 of Decoding African Prints
African Djembe Drum Circle. Play an authentic African djembe and dundun drum, learn an African welcome song, and dance using lapas.
All instruments will be provided. No musical experience is necessary and everyone is welcome. This program will be facilitated by Dr. Lydia A. Woods, a retired college professor and the Founder & CEO of
Drum Arizona, Inc. Registration is required.
Sunday, February 4, 2-4 PM. Foothills Library Roadrunner Room.
Register for African Djembe Drum Circle
Live @ the Library: Music of the West African Kora. Experience an introduction to and performance on the Kora, a 21-stringed West African harp, which is traditionally played by oral historians known as Griots.
Sean Gaskell, who studied extensively with two musicians in Gambia, will share songs that preserve an 800-year history dating back to the founding of the Mande empire. Bring the family to this informative and entertaining event.
Monday, February 12, 6:30-7:30 PM. Main Library Auditorium.
Live @ the Library: Driftwood Quintet Presents "A Dream Deferred." Celebrate Black History Month with the
Driftwood Quintet by asking “What Happens to a Dream Deferred?” Explore how different African American composers have used music to remember the past, celebrate the present, and imagine what futures could be. This concert includes pieces from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Walker, Harlem Renaissance-era composer Florence Price, and a jazz-infused piece by the contemporary Jeff Scott. This concert is funded by a City of Glendale Performing Arts Grant.
Thursday, February 15, 6:30-7:30 PM. Main Library Auditorium.