Talise Campbell, passionate about sharing her West African culture, founded the Djapo Cultural Arts Institute in 2009 in Cleveland.
The institute鈥檚 mission, reflected in the word "Djapo" (meaning "together"), is to unite people through arts, music, dance, and history.
In this week鈥檚 Sketchbook, Campbell and her team showcase a new piece, Sandia: Of the Blood, which focuses on family, culture, and the traditions of Mali.
With guidance from musical director Weedie Braimah, the performance explores the importance of griots鈥攐ral historians鈥攁nd the preservation of African culture through dance and music.
