Global Children, African Dancers honor God, preserve culture and traditions

Holy Angels parishioner Ikeena Stovall of Indianapolis leads the Global Children, African Dancers as they process into St. Rita Church on March 2 for a traditional African liturgy. His mother, Sally Stovall, founded the dance group in June 2006. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

They dance to honor God and to preserve African cultures and traditions.

Fifteen members of the Global Children, African Dancers in Indianapolis rehearse often so they can dance during multicultural liturgies at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral and other parish churches.

The high school and grade school students demonstrated intricate traditional dances during the African Mass on March 2 at St. Rita Church in Indianapolis.

Holy Angels parishioner Ikeena Stovall, a sixth-grader at Craig Middle School in Indianapolis, has been dancing for a year and a half.

“We show everybody how to dance,” he said, “and we spread our culture.”

His mother, Sally Stovall, founded the group in June 2006 at Holy Angels Parish to teach children the traditional dances from her home country of Nigeria as well as other African countries.

“I look at the children as our future,” she said, “because if you don’t have a future you don’t have anything. The idea of teaching the children [African dances] came from some of the children. They approached me and said, ‘Miss Sally, can you teach us how to do African dances?’ ”

Stovall said the Global Children, African Dancers “means so much for the African community [in the archdiocese] because we believe in carrying on our culture and traditions.”

She said the group is open to any child who wants to experience the African culture. They practice at Holy Angels Parish.

“When we had our first African Mass,” Stovall said, “I had this vision to have children dance because in Africa it’s all about the children. I wanted to introduce our African culture to them so they can be a part of our African Masses.”

Stovall grew up in Nigeria and came to the U.S. in 1984 to attend Indiana University in Bloomington. She earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration, and now works as an assistant vice president in commercial banking at an Indianapolis bank. She also serves on the Holy Angels parish council and chairs the finance committee.

Her husband, Derrick, and daughter, Miranda, help her with the ministry.

“These are children from different cultures and backgrounds that come together and make friends and learn African dances,” she said. “That’s something that they will cherish for the rest of their life—not only making new friends, but also learning about different types of African culture.”

Holy Angels parishioner NaTalja Cannon, a seventh-grader at Lynhurst Middle School in Indianapolis, said she likes “to show people our special gifts. I practice as much as I can. I try to give 100 percent effort. Whenever we dance, we can see the [people’s] smiles and they join in with us by clapping.”

Manuela Amegan, a seventh-grade student at Lincoln Middle School in Indianapolis, said she loves to dance.

“I love to come to every practice I can,” Manuela said, “and I thank God every day I wake up to come to practice. I love all kinds of dancing, but this is special.” †