In Drumfolk, Step Afrika! – the first professional company dedicated to the African American tradition of stepping–shares a tale of resistance, resilience, and reclamation. Grounded in the South Carolina Stono Rebellion of 1739, which led to the banning of drums among enslaved Africans, Drumfolk celebrates the beat of the drum embedded in the very bodies of persecuted people.
Company founder C. Brian Williams says the intention of the piece is “to reclaim the history of these unsung American heroes and heroines who so bravely fought for freedom. There is still so much of American history to explore and uncover.” When the heartbeat replaces the drumbeat, the people become the drumfolk.
