History

What is Taratibu, Pan Afrikan Drill?
Taratibu, a Pan-Afrikan drill, is movement based on the South Afrikan “gum boot” dance. It combines traditional Afrikan dance with contemporary military movements, traditional Negro spirituals, contemporary gospel and traditional Afrikan songs in Kiswahili and Zulu. The movement is military in nature but Afrikan in delivery. We use the choreography to instill messages of self-respect, responsibility, nation building and spirituality. It is a fresh approach to teaching African history, cooperation, team building, and discipline. Taratibu began at Nationhouse Positive Action Center, Watoto Shule under the direction of Afia Akoto. Arla Scott (Mama Arla) studied Taratibu with “Mama Afia” and taught with the DC Youth Ensemble (DCYE). In 1980, she started the DCYE Taratibu Drill Team and has since performed Taratibu nationwide as well as internationally in the Virgin Islands and Edinburgh, Scotland. After approximately15 years of teaching and performing Taratibu with DCYE, Mama Arla started the Taratibu Youth Association (TYA) in August of 2007.

Taratibu teaches and uses the seven principles of Kwanzaa in its class structure and choreography:

• Umoja – unity,
• Kujichagulia – self determination,
• Ujima – collective work and responsibility,
• Ujamaa – cooperative economics,
• Kuumba – creativity,
• Nia – purpose, and
• Imani – faith,

Taratibu is similar in form to “stepping” done by African American fraternities and sororities. Where rhythms are created with their feet and hands and performed in lines with chants and songs done in a cappella. However, Taratibu takes stepping to another level by adding influences in song, movement ad word from African and African American culture.

Taratibu is an expression of who we are as descendants of African people and as children of God. We have a tendency to separate those things in our daily lives; practicing our religious beliefs separately from our cultural traditions. In our essence there is no separation; we are children of God and we are descendants of African people. Taratibu is an expression of that essence.

Taratibu has a national and international appeal. Over the years as DCYE and/or as TYA, Taratibu has been taught in intensive workshops for youth organizations or performed in the following venues:

Workshops/Classes

• DC Department of Recreation & Parks (coordinated instruction at seven recreation centers)
• Oakhill Youth Facility (through Voices & Motion Players)
• Over 10 DC Public Schools and several P.G. County Schools:
  
  

  - Bunker Hill Elementary School (E.S.)	- Buchanan Middle School (M.S.)
  - LaSalle E.S.	- Garnett-Patterson M.S.
  - Garfield E.S.	- Browne Junior High
  - Turner E.S.	- Wilson Senior High
  - Parkview E.S.	- Oxon Hill High School
  - K.C. Lewis E.S.	- Largo High School
  - Patricia Harris M.S.

  
  
• Ebenezer AME Church, Fort Washington, MD
• Bladensburg Youth Incentive Program, Bladensburg, MD
• First Rock Baptist Church , Washington, DC
• Peoples Congregation Church , Washington, DC
• Kipp Charter School

Artist in Residence Programs:

• Youth Multi Service Centers; St. Thomas & St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
• Kuumba Collective, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Lula Washington L.A. Contemporary Dance Theater; Los Angeles, California
• Lafayette Youth Congress; Lafayette, Louisiana,

Performances and Performance Venues:

• International Conference for Blacks in Dance, Philadelphia, PA
• Macys, Black History Programs, Arlington, VA
• Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington, DC
• Lincoln Center Out of Doors, New York, NY
• Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Washington, DC
• Dance Africa, Dance Place, Washington, DC
• Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, Washington, DC
• Edinburgh International Arts Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Office of Personnel Management, Washington, DC
• Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
• City of Takoma Park Department of Recreation, Takoma Park, MD
• D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, Washington, DC
• Sasha Bruce Youthwork, Washington, DC
• Union Temple Baptist Church, Washington, DC
• National Campus Child Care Coalition
• First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Washington, DC
• High Calling Ministries, Ft. Washington, MD
• D.C. Dance Festival, Washington, DC