07-04-2025
West African village drumming brings dozens to Waukee library
WAUKEE, Iowa — Families partake in a lesson on West African village drumming at the Waukee library for Cookies and CultureALL.
Dozens of people attended the session where sounds of West African drumming soon filled the air. Playing on authentic djembe hand-drums from the Ivory Coast in West Africa, the group learned about the role that the music plays in African culture.
Cookies and CultureALL came to the Waukee Public Library several months ago as part of a combined effort with CULTUREALL. Each month an ambassador visits the library and shares something with the group. Past lessons include Hawaiian Hula Dancing, Guitars of Mexico, Peruvian Pan Flutes and more.
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CULTUREALL, an Urbandale non-profit, brings training, social studies programs, and more to Des Moines to help expand knowledge of other cultures and communities.
'It's really meaningful to our patrons to see both their cultures represented and then cultures they might be less familiar with, it's really a chance for representation and inclusion,' said Jenny Goulden.
Goulden, a librarian at the Waukee Public Library, says this program not only brings pieces of culture, but helps bring the community together.
'It was really impressive to watch all ages get together at those different skills, we had 3- and 4-year-olds playing out actual rhythms with the help of their family and friends, and then we had some of our senior citizens here drumming a more complex beat,' said Goulden.
Cookies and CultureALL is on hiatus while the summer reading program kicks off. The program is expected to pick back up in the fall, you can check for events here.
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