As part of Black History Month, the Mahoning County branches, as well as the Public Library of Youngstown, are featuring free performances by Sogbety Diomande.
A Mansfield resident, Diomande was born in a small farming village in Toufinga on the northwestern Ivory Coast. Since his arrival in the United States, Diomande has performed with the Djoniba, Kotchenga, and Mask dance companies.
A group of 11 children sat front and center entranced by Diomande’s performance at the Boardman branch. They listened closely as he introduced and demonstrated six different types of drums and a xylophone-style instrument called a ‘balaphone’. They were from Boardman’s Kiddin’ Around preschool, and were there by special invitation of the library.
As director of the library’s youth services and programming, Josephine Nolfi explained:
“The library thinks it’s important to celebrate various cultures that make up part of our diverse community, and Black History Month, of course, lends itself to celebrating African-American culture.”
Libraries make ample use of flyer printing companies to advertise the numerous programs they provide and the special events they hold, such as this one.
Also there by invitation were several residents of a local nursing home, Valley Renaissance Healthcare Center.