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Jabali sheds light on the accomplishments of individuals of African descent
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Dr. Victor Wan-Tatah, director of Africana Studies at YSU, explained that Jabali means "the rock" in Swahili to a group of more than 100 that gathered Friday night for the celebration filled with music, dance, food and recognition o the accomplishments of individuals of African descent.
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The Kent State University African Ensemble kicks off the ninth Jabali celebration at Youngstown State University. The group's traditional African performance with various pieces of percussion set the tone for a night of inspiration and reflection.
By KATIE SEMINARA
Jabali sheds light on the accomplishments of individuals of African descent.
YOUNGSTOWN — Heads bobbed and feet tapped to the sound of a solo drummer for an upbeat start to what Dr. Victor Wan-Tatah called “an evening of empowerment, excitement and joy.”
The ninth Jabali celebration at Youngstown State University was a mixture of music, dance, food, spirituality and reflection on the past and the present.
Jabali means “the rock,” said Wan-Tatah, director of Africana studies at YSU.
“[The celebration] exposes the great achievements of black people not only in the past, but in the present,” he said in his opening remarks Friday night.
The most recent note of success highlighted during Jabali was that of President-elect Barack Obama.
Not only was the evening about recognizing African culture and history, but it was a time to bring attention to the forward movement in the United States through the election of Obama, Wan-Tatah said.
“We give thanks for what [Obama’s] taught us and what he still has to offer,” he said.
The recognition of Obama continued with words from keynote speaker, Thomas S. Conley.
Conley, executive director and chief executive officer of the Warren-Youngstown Urban League, said it was his pleasure to speak at the Jabali event.
“It’s an honor [to] be involved with anything that involves history, especially African history,” Conley said. “If you don’t know your history, you can’t know where you’re going.”
Conley, who also is vice president of the Liberty school board, discussed a bit of history, the recent election and thoughts on the future with the crowd of more than 100.
He shared the history of spending early childhood years in Beaufort, S.C., where African traditions and the history of black men who put their mark on the world through invention are plentiful.
A black man invented the golf tee, and the first clock made in America was made by a black man, Conley said.
“People don’t know about that stuff,” he said of the accomplishments black people made to this country many years ago.
His thoughts on the election focused on recalling the racism that arose during the campaign period.
“How do we address that?” Conley asked of racism.
“By taking the higher road,” he said.
The works of the Urban League also were brought to the attention of those in attendance with a brief announcement of its new leadership program deemed “The Young Professionals.”
The Urban League aims to empower minorities through education, employment and housing opportunities. The leadership program will offer those age 20 to 40 the opportunity to gain leadership skills and participate in community service, Conley said.
Change is happening in surrounding communities, and the Urban League is an organization at the forefront of the positivity, Wan-Tatah said.
By asking Conley to speak at Jabali, a connection was made between the success of Obama and what is happening in the Mahoning Valley, he said.
“We need to follow what an important leader has been doing in our area,” Wan-Tatah said of Conley.
kseminara@vindy.com