The Singing and Praying Band of Maryland and Delaware gathered at AACC on Feb. 17 for a West African cultural tradition of singing that dates back over two centuries.

“Each one of you will get a drink through the Holy Spirit tonight,” said the Rev. Jerry Colbert, the band’s leader, before the performance started.

The performance began with a song, followed by a prayer shortly after a presentation of the band’s history.

The religious band is a product of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where most Singing and Praying Bands come from.

The group sticks to a call-and-response style of singing, which means the group splits into men’s and women’s sections. When one group sings a line, the other follows it with a response, and then everyone joins together and sings in harmony.

Students who attended the performance said they enjoyed it.

“It was a unique experience that I don’t think I’ll ever forget,” Suzie Yuksel, a freshman, said. “They made us feel like family and I even found myself singing along.”

The singing and praying movement, strong in the 50s and 70s, has since subsided.

According to band member and historian Anthony Johnson, who spent his summers in Glen Burnie participating in the singing practice with his father, the average age of each group member varies from 60 to 70.

The group is always looking for people to join and has heavy involvement in Anne Arundel and Dorchester counties, and travels to Delaware to recruit members.

Shelia Taliaferro, who became the first captain of the group after the death of her father, spoke to the audience about religious values and keeping traditions alive.

The Singing and Praying Band continues to preach about the power of song and coming together through music.