Monarchs roar hujambo at Umoja’s Black History Month Celebration

Valley College welcomed the black youth to “get sturdy” on stage and in their educational foundation.

By Andres Sanchez, Staff Writer

Zuzu acrobat Abillahi Ismail performs as a frog during the Valley Young Black Scholars Day at Valley College on Feb. 22. The Zuzu Acrobats is a Tanzanian troupe who bases their performances on 2000 years of history. (Savannah Greenly | Valley Star)

The Umoja Black Scholars program hosted Valley Young Black Scholars Day on Wednesday, featuring ZuZu acrobats at Monarch Hall.

Middle and High School students listened as Umoja coordinator Elliott Coney, Valley president Barry Gribbons, Monica Rodriguez, and Alex Ojeda relayed the importance of education and the opportunities the communities are offering to assist them. Community partners included The Educating Student Together College Access Program, National College Resources Foundation, VIP Scholars Program and Boys and Girls Club and California State University Northridge Outreach and Recruitment. The event was highlighted by the featured ZuZu acrobats known as Tanzanian African Acro.

“I think there’s a lot of businesses and corporations in the valley corridor and having them take an investment in what we're doing as a program and helping us build some of those blocks are very vital,” said Coney. “The transfer rate is abysmal for UC and CSUs for black students. So having a successful black program is not just about us on the campus but it’s all about our partners in the communities as well.”

During a break, Coney asked the crowd, “Does anyone know how to get sturdy?” three students volunteered and presented their impromptu dance moves on stage, the hall roared. One of those students was seventh grade student Kai Montgomery from Patrick Henry Middle School in Granada Hills.

“My mom went to Bennett College and Duke College,”said Montgomery.” I want to play football, I have been playing for 8 years.”

The ZuZu acrobats, Matiga Koba, M’solada, Subzero, and Junior, each performed a solo act, but all collaborated in the fifth act for a finale. Dressed in an African dashiki, Koba began teaching students Swahili greetings; he led the students in a chant. “HuJambo, Habari yako, mzuri sana, asante sana” translated into: hello, how are you, very good, and thank you very much.

The first act, introduced a man in a frog mask walking on his hands with his legs curled over his shoulders, contorting his body into several poses, even fitting through a tennis racquet. Next M’solada, balanced six golden pots spinning on all limbs, holding an umbrella with his mouth with the final pot rotating on top. Subzero, featured a one-armed handstand hovering over four chairs stacked on their legs, he even applauded himself freely with his feet over his body.

In the fourth act Junior, wheelie enthusiast, presented mastery of handling a golden BMX, unicycle, giraffe unicycle, three wheeled unicycle, mini unicycle, and a custom towering z-shaped unicycle. Finally, all together they formed human ladders displaying their strength in the forms of unique structures like giraffes.

“Nothing comes easy,” said the acrobat, Matiga Koba,” It looks easy, it takes a lot of practice, consistency, and focus.”

The team has performed together for seven years, coming from Tanzania fusing Swahili and Bantu culture tour colleges and even NBA shows. Koba said if students apply the same practice, consistency, and focus, students will achieve whatever they want to study. Their next performance was at Barstow Community College at 5 p.m. the same day.