N.S. news: Raising awareness of malaria through drumming [Video]

Olugu Ukpai is using drumming to raise awareness about malaria after losing his daughter to the disease.

While studying at the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) as an international student, Ukpai received a life-changing call from his wife in Nigeria.

“We lost one of our twin daughters to malaria,” says Ukpai.

After that, he founded the Halifax Multicultural Drummers, also known as the Malaria Warriors, who performed for African Heritage Month Thursday.

“Giving up is something that I wouldn’t want to do because of my daughter,” says Ukpai.

“I wanted her to be proud of me that I’m doing something positive, after she passed on, to create awareness about this disease.”

Kalem Beaver, African Advisor for Nova Scotia Community College, says the Ivany Campus has about 300 international students, who come from all different backgrounds and areas of the world.

“It’s nice to show a part of their own culture here on campus,” Beaver says about the performance.

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