South Columbus High School

Arts Department

The Healing Force, a group of performers from Winston-Salem, NC, that celebrates African culture held a workshop at SCHS on February 22-27, 2004. The students made an African musical instrument called a Shekere.

The workshop was sponsored by Columbus County Schools through a grant they received from the Federal government.

Sonji Gardener, Joseph, Gail, and Karim Anderson make up The Healing Force. The Healing Force educates and entertains their audiences through African art mediums such as song, dance, stories, and literature.

Since 1990, The Healing Force has performed as a full-time professional group, receiving grants from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and the North Carolina Arts Council. They are listed in the North Carolina Touring Artists Directory, Artist Directory (Arts in Education) of the United Arts Council of Wake County, and Artists in Schools Directory of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. They received training from the Summer Jembe Institute in 1997-98, as well as workshops by Mohammed Da Costa of Guinea, Djimo Kouyate of Senegal, Mamady Keita of Guinea, dance and drumming classes, and trips to Nigeria and Ghana.

South Columbus High School Arts Students enjoyed this workshop as indicated in the following pictures.