Saturday evening, a week before Christmas, and the community center is full of kids. They sit at tables in the gym, each decorated with a little Christmas tree draped in candy canes. Balloons and streamers hang from the cement walls. The kids are about to feast on turkey, curried goat, jerk chicken and sweet potato pudding. But first, the Ngoma Drum and Dance Ensemble performs. ("Ngoma" is the Swahili word for both drum and dance.) Five members of the drum group arrive, in matching purple tie-dyed t-shirts and white do-rags. At the front, standing tall and pounding his djembe -- a sculpted tube of wood stretched with goatskin -- is Yohance Francis Parsons, age twelve.
Five years ago, Yohance was a junior member of the group. Today he is clearly a leader. As the group bangs out rhythms, filling the gym with African holiday cheer, even the older, tougher-looking youths turn to look and listen. Life is rough around here. Kids often turn to guns, drugs and crime -- a lifestyle glorified in a lot of rap music. This drum group offers a positive alternative: music from the roots of African heritage, which makes people feel good. Drumming for Yohance is a constructive outlet. In addition to performing, he teaches drumming workshops.
Having chosen good role models when he was younger, he is now a positive role model himself. "The lessons give kids an opportunity to get off the streets," he says. "They donÂ’t turn to guns or drugs or whatever. So when we teach, it makes us feel like weÂ’re doing something positive." Yohance also earns money teaching: five dollars for every half hour drumming class he gives. At the same time, the group gives him a sense of belonging. "Ngoma is like family," he says. Now the group is raising money to go to Ghana in Africa next summer, to adopt a school, conduct workshops and help in community-building.
"IÂ’ve never been to Africa so itÂ’s a privilege to be able to go," Yohance says. Yohance stays busy -- and has fun. He plays basketball on a team at the community center, but music remains his main focus. He has appeared on several television shows with the drum group. He toured North America with a childrenÂ’s choir, and has joined a steel pan group called Pan Fantasy. In addition, he is playing alto saxophone at school. And he is still sticking to his secret: choosing good role models. His elder cousin, Kemar, left the drum group; Yohance now seeks to be like top-notch African drummers with whom he trains when he has a chance.
"These guys are more like role models to me since Kemar left," he says. "TheyÂ’re master drummers, among the best, so I try to mimic what they do.".