Members of the WACONGO Drum and Dance Company from Central Africa toured all parts of the Gila Valley from the Valley schools to the highest peaks of Mount Graham to share a traditional ensemble of rhythm and dance.

Bypassing the metropolitan Phoenix area, artistic director Elie Kihonia said the WACONGO dance company decided to head straight to the Gila Valley in early October, where the mountains and beauty were evident.

“We feel really connected with nature here, and nature is part of who we are,” Kihonia said. “Our mission is to bring the world to the Gila Valley, and that’s what we do!” Tom Comer of the Gila Valley Arts Council said.

As the local escort to WACONGO, Comer said it has been a labor of love showing the Valley to the visitors from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company performed at local schools and churches and visited many sites, such as the Mt. Graham International Observatory.

“There are a large number of people in the Valley who would never have the opportunity to see this African culture if the GVAC didn’t bring it right to their door,” Comer said.

The WACONGO Com-pany brought many items of “show and tell” from their rich, ancient culture and shared it with school-age children. Crowns, colorful raffia, a variety of seashells and other items were displayed and passed around for children to see and hold.

“The seashells and cowrie shells were used as a currency, and the more a person had, the wealthier they looked,” Anicet Mundundu of WACONGO said.

This display was followed by basic language lessons in Langala and Swahili, which are two languages from Africa. The company then energized the school in rhythmic song and dance in a style that can only be found in the Congo. The schoolteachers were also invited onstage to dress in the native skirts and dance with the company.

The artists of the WACONGO company have extensively toured Europe, Asia and North and South America. Their traditional dances explore music from 400 ethnic groups, including Luba, Mongo, Kongo, Mbala, Chokwe, Pende, Kuba, Mbunda and many more.

“The Luba people had a kingdom that went back way before the Colonial period,” Mundundu said.

Some of the ancient songs and dances the artists shared ranged from a joyous celebration of life called the “Mabina” to a “Liya Liya,” which is a pact of friendship.

“We are not just strangers anymore; this song means we are going to become friends,” Kihonia said.

Kihonia said the song “Mabina” translates to mean, ”When we wake up in the morning, we celebrate life — the trees are dancing; the animals are dancing, and we are dancing.”

“It’s the way you must start the day,” he said.