Sounds of clapping, African drum beats and chants echoed through the Earl Goodwin Theatre Wednesday afternoon as students from across the country, ranging from the fourth through ninth grades, celebrated African history.

Nearly 30 youth and instructors gathered in Wallace Community College’s theatre to practice dances and drum rhythms during its African Cultural Day Camp. The group, who has been practicing nearly seven hours every day since Tuesday, will finish practice Thursday in preparation for a major play to be performed at the Ancient Africa, Enslavement and Civil War Museum Tuesday, July 26.

Selma native Tearra Wright, 18, recently moved back to Selma from Georgia to help with the program. Overseeing 14 girls, Wright thinks the program is a great learning experience.

“It’s important for young people to understand their background because the younger generation doesn’t care about the past or the struggle — they see the benefits of the struggle but don’t understand the struggle itself,” Wright said. “If young people my age or their age had something positive to do, like this camp, there wouldn’t be so much chaos.”

Nashville native and African drum and dance instructor Kiya Lacey, 16, is heavily involved with the art form at her home church. She’s taught African drum and dance since the age of 14.

“I’ve been dancing since the age of 3 … I know rhythms,” Lacey said. “Every Sunday at our church we do drum and dance and I was brought here by Mama Rose (Sanders) to teach this.”

The hip-hop genre, Lacey said, originated with African drum and dance, which she said many young people fail to realize.

“Black history is not taught in the schools or the history books,” Lacey said. “With this program, Black history is taught, and it’s an outlet for kids to know who they are and where they came from. This also gives them something else to learn to do.”

For Desiree Robertson, 7, Wednesday was her first day at the camp. The Minnesota native enjoys learning the dances and stepping.

“I came because I thought it was interesting,” Robertson said. “I’ve learned that you’re supposed to learn your history.”

In addition to learning the African drums and dance, students also learned African words.

“We’ve learned such words as ‘Imani’ which means faith, Ashe’ — which means ‘it is done’ and Nia — which means purpose,” Wright said smiling.

The free, three-day camp, is sponsored by Wallace Community College-Selma, the Ancient Africa, Enslavement and Civil War Museum and the Black Belt Arts and Cultural Center.