Hot Springs Intermediate School students in fifth-grade literacy classes were graced with the presence of an African Artist in Residence March 30 through April 2.
Zinse Agginie is a 2008 Governor's Award winner born in Ghana. His education began in West Africa, but he later moved to England to continue his studies. There, he studied Psychiatric Nursing and attended the London School of Printing where he achieved the status of a diploma graduate in Graphic Arts Reproduction Technology
Agginie is an Arts in Education artist for the Arkansas Arts Council. He is credited for writing a multitude of plays for high schools and colleges and is a proud member of The Gathering, which is a part of the Arkansas African American Living History program.
The school called upon Agginie to provide real-world experiences to students in regards to a Middle Years Programme curriculum unit that encompasses culture diversity. The students were given hands-on opportunities to perform in drama skits that portray the stories of many African Trickster Tales.
Students were trained in creative rhythm-making using drums.
"Thank you for spending your time teaching us about the African culture," wrote Lily Austin, a fifth-grade student. "I enjoyed when we got to act out the 'Don't Talk to Strangers' story. There are many morals to this story."
"I really loved the drums," said fifth-grader Hannah Newcomb. "Please come back again. Everyone enjoyed you."
School on 04/26/2015