January 29, 7:30 p.m., Rudder Theatre - FREE!!!

African Martial Arts and Dance

featuring

Kilindi Iyi

Download the Official Hi-Res 8.5x11 Promotion Poster Here!!!

Kilindi Iyi is the founder of the Ta-Merrian Institute in Detroit. For
over thirty years this educational institution has been dedicated to the
study and preservation of African martial art (e.g. Zulu izinduku, a dance
using two sticks derived from the movements of traditional South African
spear and shield combat) and related traditions such as dance and drumming.

Beyond his reputation as a performer and martial artist, Iyi is a noted
teacher, and lecturer on African history, philosophy, religion, and art
both in the United States and abroad. His 1985 article "African Roots in
Asian Martial Arts" (Journal of African Civilizations. 7, 1: 138-143) is
widely cited and regarded as a classic of African-centered history.

His work as a force in the preservation of and education about African
martial arts and dance traditions has been documented on national
television shows such as "Strange Universe" (UPN 1997) and "Sixty
Minutes." Moreover, in 1998, his contribution to the preservation of
traditional African martial culture was honored on the television special
produced by actor Wesley Snipes "Masters of the Martial Arts" (TNT) in
which Iyi was a featured performer as well. "

Sponsored by the Visual and Performing Arts Academy and the Departments of
Anthropology and Performance Studies