Here’s a follow up letter for the awesome and amazing experience Matt had with Okaidja Afroso and his ensemble while they were in town for the Arts Midwest World Fest! It was really amazing. Check out Okaidja’s music. He’s a star!
November 7, 2022
Dear Friends!
On behalf of our team at the Custer Area Arts Council, thank you for your participation in the fall 2022 Arts Midwest’s World Fest Okaidja Afroso Ensemble residency in the Southern Black Hills. I hope that you each got to experience some aspect of the visit with the ensemble. I’ve heard from many that it was very meaningful to them, and I’d like to share a couple moments that meant a lot to me!
The visit to the Children’s Home Society was an especially poignant and touching exchange. Okaidja spoke directly to the kids and told them to always do what they love – he loved to dance as a kid, and it made all the difference. Many made fun of him and told him to work! Work! Work! And he did – at dancing, and look – it brought him around the world to see these kids!
I was also enthralled to see him welcome the group at the State Veteran’s Home and instantly gain their attention and focus by telling them that nothing starts until our elders are all here with us. The ensemble’s respect and camaraderie with the resident’s instantly connected them.
The school visits in Hermosa, Custer (with the Elk Mountain School attending), and Hot Springs were also each unique and engaging. I was only able to see the High School concert in Custer, but I was impressed that Okaidja could handle an entire room of teens like he had them all in his living room. And the performance was great!
The final performance was incredible, and I was just in awe - so impressed that they came to our town to play. I asked Okaidja what the most memorable experience he’s had via Arts Midwest was before this concert, and he said visiting the Black Hills! So, thank you all – I know you made an impression on them.
Each of the other performers were also so fun and interesting to get to know. Did you know Habiba has her own education business teaching about African arts and culture in schools? Randy has at least two other side bands! Israel said he was retired, but obviously is only touring MOST of the time! He said he like to play with Okaidja because “he knows what he is doing.”
Thanks again for being great hosts and friends to the Custer Area Arts Council and the Chautauqua Artisans of the Black Hills – the local hosting organizations for this program. It is a three-year program, and there will be six total performing ensembles, Including Okaidja Afroso as our initial artist. It looks like the fall programs will continue to be hosted by Custer, and the spring programs will be hosted by Hot Springs. Each visit will be a little bit different, and we will coordinate with you again as the time approaches to explore if and how you’d like to participate in the upcoming event.
Thanks particularly to the hosting venues. You made us all feel very welcome – and especially so the ensemble. Each member told me they felt very welcomed here. Eric Smith, their road manager was also very generous with his kind words about the program here.
A little more about the program:
A program of Arts Midwest, the 2022 World Fest artist tours are generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.
Arts Midwest is also generously supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Indiana Arts Commission, Iowa Arts Council, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, Wisconsin Arts Board, 3M, Crane Group, and individual donors and partners.
Locally, this program was made possible by a generous contribution from Custer Hospitality to host the ensemble at the Super 8 by Wyndham. The Custer Beacon helped us organize both the Barn Dance and the Saturday concert. Dave’s World Tours and Crazy Horse Memorial helped us share the Black Hills with the ensemble. As did the Custer Wolf, Calamity Janes’, Silk Road, Good Karma, Custer Chamber, The Custer County Chronicle, the Burning Beetle squad, French Creek Folk, Katie Lautenschlager, Rebecca Cruse and the SD Arts Council, and many other generous contributors. Custer Area Arts Council programs are all generously supported by the Oswald Family Foundation. Thanks to all these folks! A million times – thank you!
So, with that, I wish you all a long and cozy winter! If you have any questions, please reach out to me directly.
Yours in the arts,
Matt
Matt Fridell, President
Custer Area Arts Council
c. 605.517.1899
o. 605.673.3167
h. 605.673.5517
