Mission
Our name “Wontanara” is a phrase from Guinea which means “we are one.” As such, it is our mission to celebrate diversity in the Columbia community by focusing on the performing arts of Africa and her diaspora. Through educational outreach, dance and percussion classes, performances, workshops, festivals, and collaborations with other community organizations, we hope to bring our community members together and cultivate an appreciation of what African culture has to offer.
Goals
To provide Columbia, MO with easily accessible opportunities to learn about African music, dance, art, and culture.
To promote awareness of and respect for diverse cultures.
To foster individual and group creativity among people of all ages and backgrounds.
To host master drummers and dancers to Columbia, especially from African countries and communities.
WHO WE ARE
We are an organization committed to social justice, and we condemn all forms of racism. We acknowledge that our privilege has allowed us to participate in this art form. We recognize that many black people are still being oppressed all over the world.
The dance and music we share, come from various cultures in West Africa. Wontanara means “we are one.” This phrase comes from Guinea West Africa. When we say “we are one,” we consider this to mean that we all support each other. We recognize and embrace our differences. We are still learning the true essence of this phrase, and how it functions as a central theme in Guinean culture.
We are a diverse group of dancers and percussionists, who honor and appreciate the cultures and traditions we study. Our artistic director travels yearly to Guinea, and we invite master teachers to Columbia, so we can humbly learn and expand our knowledge. We are extremely grateful to our West African friends for sharing their expertise in dance and percussion. We find these movements and music to be mentally, physically, and spiritually healing. We love and cherish this art form, and we love to share it with our community. We welcome all members of the Columbia community to participate in our workshops and events.
This dance introduces us to a new culture, and new people of different races and backgrounds. In this, we all grow as humans. We know that we may never fully understand the history of the music in its entirety. We are committed to learning as much as possible. We believe through this art form, we create unity and connection.