Mariam Nabankema, is a wife, mother, US soldier, and dancer. She makes her energetic dance looks so easy with her ever infectious smile every time she takes the stage with other members of the group. Originally from Uganda, Mariam Nabankema moved to the United States in 2016 as a refugee and had made Columbus, Ohio, home ever since. “Dance wasn’t a class I took; it was in my soul and the air I breathed growing up,” Mariam told the New Americans magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, Deba Uwadiae.

Motivation

In our extended Ugandan family, the afternoons were a whirlwind of storytelling, poetry, and then we’d erupt into dance and song. It was pure joy, a symphony of movement that connected us all. My mother was a dancer too and she started teaching me how to dance when I was 3 years old. She was so passionate about dancing and that passion rubbed off on me and fueled me to hone my skills, even earning scholarships for my performances in school.

That love for dance led me to form a performance group back home in Uganda, and later another one in Kenya due to life’s twists and turns. When I finally landed here in Columbus, Ohio, the beat wouldn’t stay silent. I knew I had to share it. So, I partnered with a friend. Stella Asiimwe Kyamiza, who is also from Uganda, and together we founded the Bankema African Dance Academy. Here, we keep the vibrant spirit of African dance alive, one step at a time.

Confidence

The truth is, there’s magic that happens when the music hits, and my body starts to move. It’s like stepping into another world, a world where self-doubt and stage fright disappear as soon as I hear those African beats. The rhythm becomes my compass, guiding me with a lot of energy. It’s a feeling of pure freedom that takes me back to those afternoons back home when my mum and my extended family used to entertain each other and sometimes outperform each other with dance. Dance also gives me a chance to express myself in a way words just can’t. Maybe it’s the energy of the music, or maybe it’s the connection with the audience, but dancing fills me with a powerful confidence that just radiates outwards. It’s like wearing a smile you can’t take off.

Group

We call ourselves the Bankema Dancers, short for the Bankema African Dance Academy. It all started in 2019 when a group of passionate women in Columbus, Ohio, decided to share the vibrant spirit of Ugandan culture. We’re a non-profit with a big mission: to teach the new generation and to bridge the gap between Ugandan communities and the broader North American one. We do this through electrifying performances and workshops, fostering cultural exchange and celebrating the diverse Ugandan traditions. Our troupe? Fourteen strong! That’s a mix of talented adults and young dancers, all united by the infectious energy of African rhythms.

Youth Programs

Absolutely! Sharing the joy of Ugandan dance isn’t just for our dance troupe. Currently we offer virtual classes via Zoom to children 7 years old and above, making it easy for anyone to learn our vibrant moves – no matter where they are! Once we have a physical location where we can conduct in-person training, we’ll open up more to the public. To the public, whether one is a dance enthusiast or looking for a fun way to exercise, explore unfamiliar cultures, or break mental isolation, we can help you unleash your “inner rhythm warrior”.

Participation

Hey everyone, you are welcome to join the Bankema Dancers group by contacting us at (614) 209-3890 or bankemadanceacademy@gmail.com.

Performance

The beat of our drums isn’t confined to Columbus, Ohio though that’s where we are based! We’re a dance family that spreads its wings across the country. Catch us captivating audiences with vibrant Ugandan rhythms in states like California, Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts and beyond!

Bankema Dancers have been invited to grace many places in Ohio including Columbus and Dublin, Canton, Reynoldsburg, Delaware, Cincinnati in Ohio. Out-of-State performances have occurred in Seattle in Washington, Detroit in Michigan, Dallas in Texas, Atlanta in Georgia, and Chicago in Illinois. We have performed at family, cultural, academic, fundraising, advocacy, religious, and community events. The organizing entities have differed in size and type including private, public, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Additionally, we have collaborated with other African Immigrant communities.

Among the events Bankema Dancers have performed are:

• Uganda Independence Day celebrations hosted by UgOhio Crested Cranes Association,
• Evening of Promise hosted by Ethiopia Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) 
• Uganda North American Association (UNAA) Convention,
• Forum for Youth Advocacy (FOYA) Uganda
• Drill4Life fundraiser
• Kwanza Citywide Celebrations in Columbus
• Columbus African Festival
• Global Gateway Day for Kent State University in Canton
• Malaika Black Girls Mentoring celebration for Franklin County Children Services
• Africa Day for the City of Columbus
• Calabash African Diaspora Day at Ohio Wesleyan University
• One Columbus Cultural Day for The City of Columbus
• Black History Festival in Delaware
• Watoto Learns
• Buganda Bumu North American Convention (BBNAC)

Public Support

Bankema Dancers’ potential contribution to the community remains largely untapped because of lack of resources and exposure. The public can improve this by enrolling in our programs; recommending and marketing (traditional and digital) us to different audiences; and donating time, money, and other materials directly to the organization. We need financial support to: help compensate and nurture the trainees and performers; a transportation vehicle; training spaces/studio for our troupe; volunteers to move and chaperon our trainees; connections to private sector and grants and grant writers; increase in the number of events we are invited to participate; and improvements in amount paid for each event. Finally, we would welcome collaboration/partnering referrals to organizations and institutions, government agencies, and private entities.   

We can be contacted at (614) 209-3890 or bankemadanceacademy@gmail.com. Social media accounts are on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Donations are welcome through Zelle at bankemadanceacademy@gmail.com

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