Near East Side mural commemorates Columbus' Uhuru Dance Company history

The rhythmic movements and the sounds of Afro percussions echoed throughout the corner of Taylor Avenue and East Long Street, as Columbus poet Charles "Is Said" Lyons and others came together to commemorate an overlooked but integral fragment of Columbus history.

The Uhuru Dance Company, an African-based dance group that formed on the Ohio State University campus in the fall of 1971, celebrated its 50th anniversary Saturday with the placement of an outdoor mural at 1500 E. Long St., the former home of the  Willis Beauty Supply Store. 

On the mural, a large tree is rooted at the center of the outdoor piece, with an image of a God-like figure embracing a field of planetary-shaped masses in orbit. And at the heart of the tree's trunk, a gold-plated plaque is filled with the names of living and deceased members of Uhuru, which means freedom in Swahili, and the word "Imagine" on the lower left corner of the wall and "Always" in the upper right. 

And although the mural has yet to be finished, with Columbus-based painter Tau Murphy continuing to etch out the final touches of the piece during the unveiling ceremony,  Lyons, 86, who joined Uhuru in 1973 as a percussionist and coordinated the tribute, is happy its members are finally getting their due. 

"I think it will be a great honor to show Columbus what the Uhuru dancers have done in the last 50 years," Is Said said.

The unveiling drew more than 40 spectators and longstanding supporters of Uhuru, who watched former and current dancers, drummers, singers and poets perform in a harmonious dedication to those who have and continue to contribute to the group.

With the mural in the works since March 2020, Uhuru Artistic Director Yvonne Mumin said the moment was a euphoric one, as she looked back on the early days of the dance group through its current placement in the pillars of Columbus history. 

"I don't even know what words to say, but it's a rewarding feeling," said Mumin, 69. "I'm really enlightened with it, I'm excited about it and I think the recognition is overdue, especially for our creator. It's a beautiful recognition and it's an educational piece." 

More than ever, Mumin said the mural will serve as a cultural domain for those unaware of Uhuru, and set the stage for younger residents to embrace the group's focus on promoting spiritual awareness and spreading African cultural education through dance, poetry and song. 

Though unable to attend the celebration, founder Toni Young expressed sincere gratitude for those who have carried on the Uhuru name and lineage since the days she started the group after taking a Ghanaian dance class at OSU. 

Having been in Atlanta for nearly 30 years, where she still works as an African dance instructor, Young said it's vital the Uhuru name and tradition remain intact, so as young children grow up they will be bound by their African roots in dance, song and spirit.

And with Is Said developing much of the commemoration, Young, 73, said she knew it would be done right.

"I was happy because I know (Is Said) would have us represented in a way that was more meaningful," she said. "I'm so happy they're keeping it going and I'm hopeful the younger members will keep it going when we're not here anymore."

The mural is going to represent the dancing, the drumming and the artwork that we are doing just to represent our culture. We have to hold on to the tradition."

Murphy, who grew up just a few streets away from the mural's placement, said he's been trying to paint over the wall for most of his life. And with the opportunity to celebrate the storied history of Uhuru, it was an honor only heightened with his connection to the community. 

"I've been looking forward to this forever," said Murphy, 43.    "It's truly an honor."

Columbus resident Joyce Brown, who's taking classes with several of the members, said Saturday's tribute is something that needs to take place more frequently in the community, especially among younger residents who aren't as aware of their cultural ties. 

"You miss out on a lot of things," Brown said. "I'm used to this, and some of the women that were sitting next to me, we used to go to a lot of programs over time, and it's a part of our history. We need it."

Mayo Makinde, a South Linden Area commissioner whose father and mother both performed under Uhuru, said the mural is a beacon for onlookers to be better informed about their lineage and ties back to the Motherland. 

"It's beautiful," said Makinde, 39."There's a history to it, and they were doing it in a way for us to find our history. We left Africa in bondage, and now that we're physically free, it's better if we're intellectually and physically free, as well, and it can connect us back to our land."

With every onlooker, Is Said is hopeful they will see the mural and be inspired to use their artistic gifts in acts of favor, rather than add to the rising violence that's made its way to a number of areas throughout the city.

"I want to encourage them to be more positive, to create rather than destroy things, kill people and shooting up things." 

– The Columbus Dispatch