RedEye has had the pleasure of working with the incredible group Step Afrika! in the past and we are proud and in full support of their latest production Stono which premiered virtually worldwide on September 9th. This production is centered around the 1739 Stono Rebellion (281st anniversary). According to Step Afrika this production was done to honor the spirit of resistance and activism that remains critical to American freedom.
The History
The Stono Rebellion, also known as Cato’s Conspiracy or Cato’s Rebellion, is the largest slave uprising prior to the American Revolution. The Stono Rebellion started on September 9, 1739 in South Carolina. This rebellion was started because African Americans knew that they deserved freedom and that’s what they intended to get. As the slaves marched on throughout the south, they eventually came into battle with the slave owners. Though it may not have been a physical victory the Stono Rebellion showed that these African Americans had courage, perseverance, and were willing to risk everything to get what they deserved.
Step Afrika!’s Impact
Step Afrika!’s performance of Stono truly captures the essence of what the rebellion is all about. Step Afrika! not only embodies the rebellion but the cultural aspects that come after it. As a result of the Negro Act of 1740 slaves lost the right to use their drums. The drums were a very important to African culture. The drums were used in a means to communicate with each other, this meant that in a way the drums could talk. Once the slave owners figured this out, they banned the use of drums. But that didn’t stop the slaves from communicating instead they started to use their bodies as an instrument, and they gained the name ‘Drumfolk’ (coined by folklorist Bessie Jones). Step Afrika!’s performance shows the activism that was not only present in history but in present times as well. While slavery may be gone Black people all across American are still fighting for their rights. The Black Lives Matter Movement is an ongoing fight for equality in America. During Step Afrika!’s Stono performance there are various cuts from the past to the present and in those cuts, you can see that not much has changed for people of color.
Virtual Showcase
The production of Stono is truly a work of art that exemplifies the term Black Excellence starting from the choreography to the setting, the costumes, the singing, and the editing. The details that were included in the performance are what make it come to life. The fact that this was also a video performance also really helped to showcase the message of the performance. As a visual experience, the choreographers and dancers were able to make impactful points such as the jump cuts from past to present and the performers running through time. Overall Stono is a masterpiece that truly deserves much praise and recognition. While the performance has a limited release (Sept 9-16) we hope it will be released again.
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