The Essex County College event was held Saturday, May 21. Watch video
NEWARK -- About 200 people gathered at Essex County College Saturday for a unique daylong display of culture and music.
About 25 drum circle musicians performed the school's fourth ever "Pan African Drumfest and African Marketplace," according to organizer Akil Kokayi Khalfani, the director of ECC's Africana Institute.
In addition to pro performances from the Zawadi School of African Dance, New Jersey Steel Rhythms, Khalid's Custom Drums, and Folilaye African Drum & Dance Company, amateur drummers from Essex County, Trenton, Philadelphia, and NYC participated, Khalfani said.
With about 50 drums and other African instruments taking part, this year's event did not quite meet the college's goal of creating the largest African drum circle ever assembled in New Jersey. But, Khalfani said the group will make another attempt at breaking that record next year.
The event is part of the Africana Institute's mission to further "the exploration and critical examination of the global African experience."
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.