By Lauren Vaught
Staff Writer

Singing from Ghana to Madison, a group of African-American students are set to perform in a month designated to celebrate their past.
The Fisk Jubilee singers are from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. The original, white choir started signing 1871, and the Fisk Students traveled with the white choir. After shows, the Fisk students did an encore performance featuring traditional gospel songs.
A few years later, they left the white choir and began singing strictly "African-American Spirituals." Keeping the tradition of their ancestors alive, they continue traveling the country, singing and speaking about the origin and emotion behind their songs.
“We’re just overjoyed to have these outstanding individuals and performers here [to sing for us], and the interest of the community in our hosting them,” said Lynn Aull, performance director at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center.     
Many people in the community are excited about the event and are participating in their own way. The Cultural Center is working with local churches in the area to bring more awareness to the performance. The churches are enthused, and are doing what they can to help.
“Saint Paul AME Church will provide the dinner for them, and the next morning Springfield Baptist Church will host a breakfast,” Aull said.  
The Fisk singers travel both nationally and internationally. In 2007 they were invited to Ghana to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary of their independence. Additionally, they have traveled all over the Southeast.
The performance will be held at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center on Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, $25 for Cultural Center members and $35 for non-members. This performance will be one of the Center's Mainstage Productions for the 2008-2009 season.

Published in the January 29, 2009 edition.