Instructor, Uncle Michael Taitt, taking a budding gymnast at All Saints’ Nursery School through her paces.
Teacher Mrs. Anya Holmes, who also served as emcee, with a group of children after the African Awareness Day celebrations at the All Saints’ Nursery School.
Children at the All Saints’ Nursery School are learning to embrace their African culture and heritage from an early age with the celebration of Black History Month/African Awareness Day.
The commemorative event held at the Pleasant Hall, St. Peter school on Friday, February 23, 2018 saw the children participate in a range of fun-filled activities such as dancing, gymnastics and modelling, with an explosion of excitement.
A special presentation by Instructor, Uncle Michael Taitt and the young gymnasts of the school highlighted an energetic display of tumbling, hand-standing against the wall, flips and cartwheels. This carefully executed performance demonstrated balance, strength, flexibility, agility, co-ordination, endurance and control.
The young dancers were accompanied by Instructors, Mr. Ramoun Joseph on the drums and Mrs. Nadia Mitchell-Gittens in singing: “I am an African, oh yeah! I am a Black man, oh yeah!” They also added some traditional nursery rhymes and songs to the mix with ‘There’s a Brown Girl in the Ring’, ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’, ‘Bluebird through my Window’ and ‘One, Two, Buckle My Shoe’ as they moved in rhythm to the beat of the drums.
The children also made a powerful fashion statement in African wear, which offered an array of bright colours and captivating designs. Popular among the boys were the Dashiki shirts with an ornate V-shaped collar, paired with a brimless Kufi hat and matching pants or co-ordinated jeans. Meanwhile, the girls reflected a variety of African hairstyles with corkscrews, braids and puffs; some of which were adorned with African head wraps matching their Kaftan shirts/dresses and skirt suits.
Teacher Mrs. Anya Holmes, who served as the emcee, presented the children as they modelled in their African wear under respective groups – The Incredibles, The Wonder Kids, The Defenders, The Protectors, The Avengers and The Guardians. Parents were also included as they “strutted the runway” with their children in co-ordinating outfits for the finale. Soundtracks which offered a direct connection to the African wear being modelled were ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’ by Shakira and ‘African Pride’ by Buju Banton.
Principal Mrs. Marva McClean expressed her gratitude to parents, guardians, staff members and children for their involvement, modelling and supporting the four extracurricular activities – gymnastics, dancing, cricket and football – on Fridays.
“It is a celebration of our heritage. It teaches them from early to be proud of and appreciate their African heritage... The children are really ben-efiting. You can see the budding gymnasts and dancers and it’s improving their self-confidence, ability to follow instructions and develop their co-ordination to help build their muscles and develop [their] fine and large motor skills,” Mrs. McClean said.