Omelika Kuumba

29th Sep 2017 Black Nativity 2019 Cast

Omelika Kuumba is a native of Brooklyn, NY and a graduate of Spelman College. Kuumba is a drummer, dancer, choreographer, musical arranger, cultural arts educator, and co-founder/ artistic director of GIWAYEN MATA. She has studied under the direction of master dancers and percussionists in this country and in Senegal, West Africa. Other highlights of her career include performing during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, teaching and choreographing at Trollwood Performing Arts School in North Dakota, and teaching percussion and choreographing in Stuttgart, Germany, Hastings, England and Bermuda. Omelika is an instructor and workshop leader and lecturer of percussion and dance at various schools and programs to expand awareness and appreciation of African dance and music. She is an instructor of African Dance Forms at Spelman College, directs Ashietu, the Sisters Chapel African Dance and Drum Ministry at Spelman College, and teaches West African dance for Atlanta Ballet’s AileyCamp. She has been a consultant for the Atlanta Public Schools Gifted and Talented Program and the National Black Arts Festival.