POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam's Crane School will present a free concert featuring the West African Drum and Dance Ensemble Sunday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Snell Music Theater. The performance will include traditional music from West Africa.

The West African Drum and Dance Ensemble features traditional drumming, dancing and singing from West Africa, including a range of music genres. The ensemble performs recreational, ritual, royal, funeral and sacred music.

As is typical of West African ensembles, this one is open to all, regardless of musical background or ability, and it is open to both music and liberal arts majors.

The ensemble, under the direction of Julie Hunter, strives to represent the traditions in the most accurate and culturally sensitive way possible.

The West African Ensemble will be joined by Ghanaian lead drummer Martin Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng, a drummer, composer, dancer and educator originally from Ghana.

He teaches at Brown University, and has shared the stage with Max Roach, Roy Hargrove, Randy Weston, Anthony Braxton, Gideon Alorwoyie and Obo Addy.