Egun Omode Performing Arts Collective
WHO IS EGUN OMODE? (pronounced Ay-Goon O-Mo-Day)
EGUN OMODE (children of the ancestors), formerly of Trenton, NJ now in Atlanta, GA, was founded by Baye and Makeda Kemit. We are a West African children’s performing arts collective. Our company was originally comprised of teachers, artists, and students at The Garvey School, an African-centered independent school in Trenton. EGUN OMODE is now a collective that incorporates performers from throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area. As African-centered educators, musicians, and life-long students of African culture, EGUN OMODE brings the authenticity and excitement of West African culture and tradition to the stage.
EGUN OMODE has toured consistently since 2012, gracing many main stages from New York City to Atlanta, most recently Atlanta’s Juneteenth event at Centennial Park, in addition to Symphony Space (NY), Mary Burche Theatre (Newark), Passage Theatre (Trenton), Painted Bride Art Center (Philadelphia), The Arc Theatre (DC), Theatre VCA (Richmond), and Spelman College (Atlanta). EGUN OMODE has produced and toured 6 dynamic West African musical productions: The Journey (May 2012), 5 Pumpkin Seeds (May 2013), The Cowtail Switch (December 2013), Look For Me In The Whirlwind (December 2014), The Telling of the Trees (December 2015), and AWO (December 2016).
EGUN OMODE continues to provide live and virtual performances/assemblies to public schools, nonprofits, community, and faith-based organizations throughout the country.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Makeda Kemit (choreographer, producer, costume/set designer) has been West African dancing since the age of 3. By the age of 10, Makeda traveled to Senegal as a member Maimouna Keita, under the direction of internationally known master teacher Marie Bass-Wiles. Later she became assistant Artistic Director of Timbuktu Dancers and Drummers in Trenton. After graduating from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, Makeda has written, choreographed and directed Egun Omode's 6 dynamic West African musical productions. Since 2012, Makeda and EGUN OMODE has toured consistently, gracing many stages from New York City to Atlanta, such as Symphony Space (NY), Mary Burche Theatre (Newark), Passage Theatre (Trenton), Painted Bride Art Center (Philadelphia), The Arc Theatre (DC), Theatre VCA (Richmond), and Spelman College (Atlanta). Since moving to Atlanta, Makeda has invested her attention to redeveloping Egun Omode Performing Arts Collective and teaching toddlers through dance and sekere. Makeda is most happiest when she is able to cultivate Black children either in the classroom or on the stage.
MANAGER
Baye Kemit, Ed.M is committed educator from Trenton, NJ. Baye graduated from Clark Atlanta University (BA, History ‘96) and Temple University (Masters, Education Administration, ‘02). In 2003, Baye founded The Garvey School, an independent African-centered high school and, in 2007, expanded the institution to include Egun Omode Shule (children of the ancestors school), which was grades preschool through 8. In 2010, Egun Omode African dance and drum performing arts collective was born, and the Kemit family has dedicated their time managing and promoting cultural arts in the city of Trenton, and now Atlanta, GA. In addition to being Manager of Egun Omode, he is the current National Facilitator of the Council of Independent Black Institutions (CIBI), a national consortium of Independent Black Schools (IBI), an Educational Consultant, and, his special love lies in his bi-annual group tours to Ghana, West Africa and his annual HBCU college tours which he started in 1999. Baye is an initiated priest of Ifa (Babalawo) and spends most of his spare time as a volunteer AAU basketball coach, fishing, and selling African market products.