Roscoe Barnes III
Aug 17, 2023 | 7:59 AM
Jerry Jenkins performing on the drums
LORMAN, Miss. - Jerry Jenkins and his drums will be
featured in a program on West African music at Alcorn State University.
Jenkins will offer a historical look at African music and
give demonstrations of how the music is played. He also will discuss its value
as well as its impact on today’s culture in Southern Mississippi.
Jenkins’ presentation is titled, “A Look at Mande’ (West
African) Culture through Traditional Music.” It will be held at 1 p.m. on Sept.
12, in Dumas Hall, Room 107, on the Lorman Campus of Alcorn State
University.
“My lecture will focus on the music of Pre-Africa and
what it was like,” Jenkins said. “We will look at the music and the people of
that time period. Today, we separate our artists from the community. But what
are the benefits of bringing them back together?”
Jenkins said he will engage the crowd as he often does in other presentations. He said he will bring extra drums for this purpose.
Jerry Jenkins teaching
“We are delighted to host Mr. Jenkins at Alcorn State
University,” Busby said. “His interactive presentation will delve into the
influence of West Africa on American culture. He uses music to tell an
important story and to engage his audiences.”
Jenkins is originally from Chicago. He grew up in
Vicksburg and now lives in Jackson. His work as a musician and educator has
taken him across the state and to cities outside of Mississippi.
In February 2022, Jenkins played the drums and portrayed
King Sori in a play on Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahim held at the Natchez Museum
of African American History and Culture. The play was titled, “Isabella and the
Prince: ‘Overcoming Struggles Through Courage & Faith.’” It featured local
historian Jeremy Houston as the Prince and Shella Adams, an actual descendant
of Ibrahim, as Isabella.
During his performance with the drums, Jenkins moved
throughout the room and engaged the audience by having several people play the
drums along with him.
Jenkins has given presentations at the Two Museums in
Jackson and Juneteenth events in Vicksburg.
He said he’s also performed for the Jackson-George Regional Library
System on the coast. In addition to his performance at the museum, Jenkins also
has given presentations at Concord Quarters, working with Debbie Cosey, the
property’s co-owner.
Jenkins has been a lifelong student of African music. He
is a member of the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Speakers Bureau. He also is listed as a performance artist on
the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist Roster.
According to the commission’s website, Jenkins “provides
engaging programming structured around West African stories, dramas and Djembe
ensemble music.”
Jenkins teaches various levels of advanced techniques in Djembe drumming and Mande culture through music. “His unique approach to interacting with the audience creates a deeper and more meaningful experience,” the website states. For more information on Jenkins’ presentation, call 601-877-6551. To request disability-related accommodations contact the Disability Coordinator at least five days in advance at 601-877-6460 (office) or email at disabilityservices@alcorn.edu
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