Black History Month event at courthouse in February

In honor of Black History Month, Monmouth Vicinage Superior Court will sponsor an event focusing on the musical traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, at the Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument Park, Freehold.

A reception, during which staff member Tarika Jean-Pierre will sing the national AfricanAmerican anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," will be held in the jury assembly room from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 8.

A demonstration of approximately 30 drums from three African countries, "Promoting Unity Through Drumming," will be performed by African hand drumming specialists Mark and Krista Wood and Dena Tauriello.

Adiscussion ofAfrican instruments and rhythms and an interactive segment will follow. The program will end with a poem from Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," performed by employee Catherine Heredia.

The program is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Catherine at (732) 677-4215 or Catherine.Heredia@ judiciary.state.nj.us.