CHILDREN EXPLORE CULTURE, TRADITIONS OF AFRICA : PACOIMA CENTER RE-CREATES VILLAGE WITH MUSIC, STORYTELLING.

Byline: Virginia Gonzalez Daily News Staff Writer

The Pacoima Community Youth Culture Center was turned into an African village Saturday, complete with storytelling, weaving and drum playing.

The free daylong event, staged as part of the center's Saturday enrichment classes, was intended to introduce African-American children to their rich heritage, said Deborakh Broadous, the enrichment program's founder and executive director.

``We strive to share as much information about our customs - such as weaving and participatory storytelling - as we can with the young people so that they may carry on the traditions rich in culture and pride of Africa,'' Broadous said.

Participants were invited to weave colorful yarn mats, make rain sticks, learn about and play a variety of African drums or make cloth dolls from scraps of material, a molded metal hanger and yarn.

The youngsters and adults who participated in the interactive storytelling danced, sang, wiggled and roared to the whimsical banter of Ellaraino, a storyteller best known as Sunny on the Fox Children's Network ``Clubhouse.''

Audience members were invited to participate by acting out the character's actions while others chanted, sang and clapped along with accompanying drum and wind instrument musicians.

Such hands-on learning is the key to passing on the many customs and traditions of the African people, said Connie Taylor-Broadous, director of the Pacoima Community Youth Culture Center.

``We feel that one of the best ways that a community can stay united is by including everyone in sharing our culture with us,'' Taylor-Broadous said.

Stephanie Newman, a Birmingham High School student who participates in the three nine-week sessions offered at the community center throughout the year, said the event offered a good learning experience.

``It's important for everyone to learn about the many cultures from around the world because it gives them insight to others backgrounds and customs,'' she said.

Joseph Anderson of Agoura Hills found out about the event when the company he works for - Griffin Industries - made a donation to the community center to help with the village recreation.

Anderson decided to attend with his wife and 2-year-old, Joshua, to get a taste of what's offered in Pacoima.

``So far, I'm impressed with the center's hospitality to community members and how they're presenting our culture by featuring so many different facets of it,'' Anderson said as he watched Joshua stroke bright colors of paint onto a face mask.

``I've worked across the street from here for a long time and I never knew what this center was all about, but I like what I see here - it's very positive.''

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Photo: Derf Reklaw performs at the Pacoima Community YouthCulture Center's African celebration Saturday.

David Sprague/Daily News