“A question and answer session allowed pupils to find out more. Listening skills were developed”.  -Mrs. S Gough, Headteacher Monksdown Primary School, Liverpool

 “I am grateful to you for our group opportunity to get involved with your Bodies In Harmony sessions. Our elderly people really enjoyed it and found it a very educational experience. If there are any more opportunities in the future to have free sessions like this, we will really appreciate it.  We look forward to hearing from you.” – Geraldine Mason and Team at Porchfield Community Centre, Liverpool

“It was a wonderful experience for the children particularly for the P.5/6 with whom you did most of the activities. The children certainly enjoyed themselves and the whole school enjoyed participating at the end of the day. The experience gave the children an insight into another culture and its traditions.”  –Shona M Kelly, Headteacher Kirkkhill Primary School, St Mary’s Road Kirkhill IV5 7NX

“Thank you so much for the splendid day of African music and tradition we shared with you at Foyers. The children are still remembering with excitement and affection the dances, songs, and stories you shared with us. Many of them came across you performing in Inverness and brought back stories. I hope you continue to enthrall children throughout the country.”  –Mrs. Sheila Lamont, Headteacher, Farr Primary School Farr, Inverness, IV2 6XJ 

“At the end of your sessions, the children were encouraged to ask questions regarding the performance. The first question asked was when are you coming back? This sums up the enjoyment of the day. Thank you for coming to our school.”  –Maria Campbell, Class Teacher, Merkinch School, Telford Road, Inverness IV3 8HY

“

I simply want to say thank to you guys for the project. It was absolutely outstanding!

” -Helen Hansen

“Great project! I was part of the project and I must confess that I enjoyed every minute of it. Please do let me know when you are going to have projects such as FUN WITH FABRIC in our neighbourhood again”. -Sarah Westwood

“My sister invited me to be part of FUN WITH FABRIC project but I couldn’t because I was really busy at the time. Now I wished I had taken part in it when I saw the stuff my sister was able to do with fabrics. You guys are really good!” -Rachel Wilson

“It was a great and wonderful experience trying my hands- on other stuff to keep me busy as done with FUN WITH FABRIC. I never thought my hands could be that useful lol. Thanks, and please keep me informed when next you have such wonderful training.”-Veronica Jones

“I like what you guys are usually up too. This type of training is what we need to help us, unemployed single parents.” -Gina Lisa Tracey 

“The benefits of Osun Arts coming to our school, ranging from experiences of expressive arts through to brilliant multicultural experience. Return visits very important and necessary for our children.”  –Parkhead Primary School, West Lothian Council, Scotland

“Enjoyed, exited, took part enthusiastically in performance.”

–St John the Baptist Primary School, West Lothian 

“This work increased children awareness of African Culture. We had a wonderful day. The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the parents very much appreciated what had been done when they saw the performance. We would certainly like to see this or similar multi-cultural groups again. This encompassed all areas o the expressive arts in one day. And gave us lots of scope for both. Preparation and follow-ups to the visit.” –Mid Calder Primary School, West Lothian

“It was a brilliant time doing theAfrican storytelling workshops we had, I certainly enjoyed it! The visit was an overall success and generally much appreciated.” -Arts Officer (Cultural & Leisure Services, Inverness Area)

“Many thanks to the artists who visited the school last week, the children really enjoyed their day and all the staff seemed to think it was a very valuable and worthwhile visit.” -Jacky Chapman (St. Anne’s Fulshaw, Wilmslow, Cheshire

Bawo ni! I liked the drumming and I liked the tye-dyeing. E se for coming! It was a really nice day for me. The song was really cool. I hope we see you again. I went to see your play at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre. It was really good! I am going to wear the top costume a lot when I go out. The story-telling was really good. I liked the brain-teasers that we did. The drumming is fun, I liked it when we learned that song. It’s still in my head. O dabo!” -Teacher, Croxteth Community Comprehensive School, Liverpool

 “The children experienced drama, dance, music, design and working on textiles, but more surprisingly they also used many maths and science skills; they took a ‘journey’ to Africa, looking at the rich history and geography of the continent through the eyes of those who come from and have special knowledge of it” -Paula Judd – Headteacher, Middlefield School, Liverpool

“We have enjoyed having you ..what a fantastic two days it has been…children and staff have had so much fun..you have just been amazing”. – St Anne (Stanley) C of E Primary School Prescot Road Old Swan Liverpool

“I really enjoyed the African day on the 7th of July and this letter is just to say thank you and to tell you what I liked most. I really enjoyed the drumming, tie-dyeing and African storytelling. Even though I didn’t get to know how to do the tie dye. I still thoroughly enjoyed it and I’ll always wear my tie-dye t-shirtuntil I grow out of it.” – Josh, Builth Wells High School, Powys, Wales

“I am grateful to you for our group opportunity to get involved with your Bodies In Harmony sessions. Our elderly people really enjoyed it and found it a very educational experience. If there are any more opportunities in the future to have free sessions like this, we will really appreciate it.  We look forward to hearing from you.” – Geraldine Mason and Team at Porchfield Community Centre

“Thank you so much for the splendid day of African music and tradition we shared with you at Foyers. The children are still remembering with excitement and affection the dances, songs,and stories you shared with us. Many of them came across you performing in Inverness and brought back stories. I hope you continue to enthrall children throughout the country”. –Mrs. Sheila Lamont, Headteacher, Farr Primary School Farr, Inverness, IV2 6XJ 

“The very enriching and enjoyable time, both children and staff gained a positive and uplifting experience from all the w/shops and the performance.”  –Kate Allerston, Clayesmore School, Blandford, Dorset

“I wanted to thank you for such a great night in Falmouth last night – your energy was amazing, big respect to all of you for such a great show. I teach djembe here in Cornwall and took along 15 students. There are so few opportunities to hear and see African arts; they’ve only had my word for it so far. So thanks, they’re all totally inspired and excited! I hope we’ll see you again down here next year!”  –BoumBoum Drum Workshops, Falmouth Cornwall

“I am speechless. Your show is extraordinary. It is fantastic.I am sure you all will come again next year.” – Richard Quinn – Teacher and Multi-Cultural Week Organiser, Weatherhead High Schoo, Birkenhead

“Very enjoyable. Really helped those with less confidence” -Calderstones Secondary School, Liverpool

“Absolutely brilliant – the dancing was superb. It helped my body movement. The drumming was obviously enjoyed by everyone who took part. Hope you come back” -Julie – Parent at Botanic Park

“I would like to extend my thanks to Osun Arts for bringing such spirit and wonder into our community and for showing us so many interesting andawe-inspiring things.” – Dorcas Adeoye, Participant

Workshops Very Good – the children were actively involved throughout “ (Teacher, Foyers Primary)

“Children loved hearing music and were fascinated by the instruments” (Teacher, Central Primary)

“The work is very good – especially considering such a short time for preparation” (Teacher, Foyers Primary)

“Children still singing the songs” (Teacher, Aldourie Primary)

“Children still dancing at playtime” (Teacher, Merkinch Primary)

“Very worthwhile, interesting. Children on task” (Teacher, Smithton Primary)

“Worthwhile, interesting, skillful, educational and enjoyable”(Ladeside Primary School, Falkirk, Scotland)

“The visit was an overall success and generally much appreciated”  (Highland Council)

African dance workshop for schools

Our African dance workshop is suitable for primary schools and secondary schools.

Pupils are taught original African dance techniques, accompanied by live drumming, while wearing traditional African clothing.

They come to understand the importance of the communication between the dancers and the drummer and the whole workshop is geared towards a final performance in the school.

Mask-making workshop for schools

Our mask-making workshop is suitable for primary schools and secondary schools.

Masks and bronze sculptures are centrally identified with African culture. They are largely used to represent animals, as some African tribes believe that the wearing of the mask can help them communicate with the animals and spirits of the forest. In West Africa, they are used in masquerades, a cultural event such as a ceremony where the masks are worn to embody the entity that the mask represents.

This is a hugely popular part of our programme, giving pupils the tools to be creative in the shaping of the mask and to display them as part of an exhibition. First, we show the pupils representations of African masks and sculpture and the stories behind them. With the use of clay, papier mâché, or plaster, the pupils create the masks and then paint them afterwards.

Storytelling and language workshop for schools

Our storytelling workshop is suitable for primary schools and secondary schools. The benefits of learning a new language are well known; with Osun pupils can learn local languages and dialects from all over Africa.

Starting off with simple words and phrases, we then move onto longer sentences with the aim of pupils having short conversations with each other.

Pupils are shown visual aids such as posters and photos, and films and music recordings can also be provided to enhance the learning experience.

Children love to practise their new language skills on friends and parents, and in addition, they will learn more about Africa and how speech is used within the different dialects.

Tie-dye workshop for schools

Our tie-dye workshop is suitable for primary schools and secondary schools.

Tie Dye techniques have been used for centuries in the western part of Africa and the technique is an easy and effective way to introduce pupils into the art of African clothing design.

Children are allowed to be as creative as they want in designing their patterns to be created on fabrics with dyes.

Our aim is to familiarise the pupils with the use of African tie-dye and dye-making and to give a brief background into its origins.

Pupils love seeing their creations come to life through the use of fabric which will give them something to treasure and wear in the future.

African drama workshop for schools.

Our African drama workshop is suitable for primary schools and secondary schools.

At Osun, we believe that drama is a key concept in encouraging community, boosting children’s confidence and promoting the values of listening and consideration – while being fun for everyone concerned.

Our drama workshops use short light-hearted plays which educate participants about aspects of African history.

After listening to a selection of traditional African short stories and selecting a favourite, pupils use music, song, and dance to turn it into their very own drama. We can also provide authentic African costumes to make it even more fun!

The workshop gives children the opportunity to learn traditional songs and practise simple African dialogue as well as learning dance routines rarely seen outside of Africa.

African cookery workshop for schools.

Our African cookery workshop is suitable for primary schools and secondary schools.

Our sessions aren’t just fun for all involved, they promote healthy food, using traditional African foodstuffs and indigenous spices and herbs which many pupils have not encountered before.

The Osun chef talks the children through all the ingredients, demonstrates how to prepare and eat the food – and then it’s over to the children!

Pupils will be guided through the process of creating a selection of nutritious meals, catering also for vegetarians, before laying a table in the real African tradition.

Music can also be provided while everyone settles down to eat. Pupils go home not only with memories of an African style meal, but with real life skills they will be able to put to good use in the future.