Why Abela?

Why should you choose Abela?
As a learning partner for your organization, Abela occupies a unique position in the UK’s cultural education sector. There are relatively few African diaspora organizations employing ‘cultural therapy’ techniques on a wide scale. Fewer still with a proficient knowledge and experience of original Caribbean cultures and an awareness of the various therapeutic models to which these cultural expressions may be applied. Our facilitators are trained, accredited practitioners with a working knowledge of documented research in this area.

As a UK-based performance group, there are a handful of performers working with traditional Caribbean music, dance and song. Of this handful, Abela are one of the few who are in a position to take these performances to the resident diaspora communities, and wider audiences wishing to engage with such experiences.

What does Abela actually mean?
The word Abela translates as ‘candle’ in the Yoruba dialect of West Africa. A candle is a powerful symbol of light and life. We begin each of our projects, workshops and performances with the sole aim of transmitting these qualities to our students/audiences using the artistic media available to us.

Often, people light candles in remembrance of those dear to them. In our rapidly changing world of megapixels, gigabytes and 3D entertainment, Abela is a candle lit to pay homage to the importance of the cultures, values and contributions of our ancestors. Although we are most definitely a 21st century company, we are acutely aware of the need for the preservation, celebration and dissemination of our collective heritage so that it may benefit this and future generations.