Learn the secret rhythms from African Masters of Drum! This is a unique opportunity to study with some of the most famous names in African drumming! Learn rhythms and techniques from Master Drummers from Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Congo. Classes are all levels.
DIOM DE KOSSA - IVORY COAST - DJEMBE
DIOM DE KOSSA
The Yadoh drum is one of the most powerful instruments in West African music. Drum virtuoso Diom de Kossa demonstrates this to the full. He shows tremendous variety from acoustic traditions to modern. Kossa was born in the Ivory Coast to a father who was a famous traditional dancer. He began his artistic career in 1975 in the National Ballet of the Ivory Coast where he spent 10 years playing and travelling together with other master drummers, musicians and dancers. Kossa is considered a world musician, his solo performances with the Yadoh - five small drums bound around one large one is a demonstration of breathtaking speed, control and technique and is both very ear and eye-catching. Kossa immigrated to Norway in the mid-eighties and after having played with a number of different musicians and dancers from different origins and cultural backgrounds in various arrangements in Scandinavia, Kossa gathered compatriots he played with in the National Ballet, and in 1986 founded the group Super Djembe Kan. Super Djembe Kan has since then toured throughout Scandinavia and Europe providing exciting extraordinary performances of West African music and dance. Kossa has worked very much with the Norwegian Concert Institute, especially with performances and workshops for children. Since he started working there in 1987 he has performed more than 1000 concerts all over Norway. In 2008 Kossa composed a comission to the Telemark Folk Music Festival in Boe - called "Voyage". You can connect with Kossa on MySpace & Facebook at http://www.myspace.com/diomdekossa https://www.facebook.com/diomdekossa
THOBOS LUBAMBA - CONGO - NGOMA
THOBOS LUBAMBA
Thobos Lubamba was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo/Kinshasa. At the age of 15, Master Thobos co-founded BANA-KIN and released a CD for which he did the musical research and on which he played several instruments. In 1984 he worked closely with Percussions ELIMA. Between 1983 and 1987 he founded several groups, including the Ballet d'Institut des Beaux Arts (4-time 1st-place winners of the promo-scholastic competition, and 7-time winners of the festival of fraternities). He was co-founder of TUTA-NGOMA (4 1st-place trophies under his artistic direction). On October 31, 1988, on his 22nd birthday, he created NGOMA I NGOMA ('A drum is a drum"), an experimental ensemble of rhythm and dance, and a school that researched and taught rhythms and dances. He completed an internship in 1992 at the National Ballet of Congo and was then employed for three years as a percussion artist. As a renowned artistic director, Master Tam-Tam and Djembe percussionist, Master Thobos toured and performed throughout Africa, Europe and Asia. Master Thobos left Africa for Orlando in 1997 to fulfill a contract with Disney at Epcot Center with TAM-TAM African group. Two years later, Thobos joined the world beat percussion group DRUMS OF UMOJA which was performing nightly at Universal CityWalk. In 2000 and 2001, he choreographed the opening show for the Jimmy Buffet Tour. In 2005 Thobos was an integral part of the Shredd! Ensemble’s theatre show, The Extraordinary Fila, which won multiple awards in the 2005 Orlando International Fringe Festival. On the 30th of June 2003; which is Independence Day for the Congolese people, the Tam-Tam Congo group was recreated by Master Thobos Lubamba and a few more Congolese Masters, Dancers, and Drummers. The reconstructed group toured the US,and then retourned to Disney in 2005. This time they are featured at the Animal Kingdom. Master Thobos, who continues to perform worldwide, now lives in Orlando and teaches dance and drum classes and leads workshops around the United States for adults and children. Find Thobos at https://www.facebook.com/thobos & http://www.myspace.com/thobos
DR. DJO BI - IVORY COAST - DJEMBE
DR. DJO BI
Dr. Djo Bi is a master hand drummer from the village of Bangofla, Cote D’Ivoire, West Africa, where music permeates daily life. As a young boy, Dr. Djo Bi had a unique talent and understanding of the rhythms and sounds of his culture.His parents were musicians, and Dr. Djo Bi has had a drum in his hands since he was a toddler. Around age 5, he was performing in church; and by the time he was a young teenager, he was invited to begin a professional career as a musician/artist among seasoned adult musicians and dancers.It was these adults who christened him as "TheDoctor" because he had a mature, prodigal knowledge of his craft.They felt he could take any rhythm or sound and make it even better. Having lived in Paris, France, for a dozen years, Dr. Djo Bi was able to involve himself with a wide variety of musical experiences.He was even involved with the African Museum in Brussels, Belgium, as part of a research group with Curator Anne Marie Bouttiaux returning with him to his village to learn about mask dance culture.In 1997, Dr. Djo Bi moved to New York City where he founded and directed a group called Bangofla Music Ensemble. He has performed and educated across the States, particularly around New England and the Eastern seaboard while he lived in New York for 10 years. We are now blessed in the Midwest to have such a phenomenal and renowned African musician available to us. Dr. Djo Bi has worked with students of all ages, from preschoolers to senior citizens. He has taught in public and private school settings, museums, drum and dance schools/camps, workshops and special events. Dr. Djo Bi loves his craft and lives with it every day. It is his mission to share his love of music with you. Find out more about Dr. Djo Bi at: http://www.doctor-djobi.com/
MANGUE SYLLA - GUINEA - DOUN DOUN
MANGUE SYLLA
Born in Conakry, Guinea in West Africa, Mangue Sylla started playing music at the age of 7. Sangban being his first and favorite instrument, he learned from some of the best teachers and performers from Lamine Bayo, Kanda, Lancey to Numudi. He soon became a professional musician and began working at "Jean Paul 2" Children school for 6 years as a sangban player. Among other great performances, the group won first prize at a festival in Togo. In 1993 Mangue joined the well known ballet troupe: "Les Merveilles de Guinee”. This provided him the opportunity to travel throughout Africa and study under the leadership of Kemoko Sano. In 1998 Mangue moved to the US with the same ballet. Since then, while still an active member of "Les Merveilles de Guinee", he has been working with numerous groups including: Alvin Ailey, Magbana Drum and Dance, Drum Cafe, Marylin's Bamdulaye, and Nandy's Sankofa Kuumba Cac (summer program for children). Mangue Sylla currently lives in New York City. He keeps a busy schedule performing, teaching, attending workshops and dance conferences. For more info about Mangue, please visit: http://manguesylla.com
ABOUBACAR "AMO" SOUMAH - GUINEA - DJEMBE
ABOUBACAR "AMO" SOUMAH
Popularly called "Amo", was born and raised in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa. He hails from the popular Guinean Gbassikolo Drum and Dance Company, which he directed under the supervision of Mr Jbril Morlaye Camara from 2000-2006.
He first discovered his love for his country’s traditional music and rose to the title of “Djembe Fola” [Master of Djembe Drum] at the age of eight. Since arriving in the United States in 2006, he has been a well sought after performer.
He currently works with Agbedidi African Ensemble in the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida under the direction of Mohamed DaCosta.
website:
http://nichefaulkner.wix.com/aboubacar-soumah#!bio
facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.145830438781721.20241.100000642960928&#!/aboubacar.soumah.1
He first discovered his love for his country’s traditional music and rose to the title of “Djembe Fola” [Master of Djembe Drum] at the age of eight. Since arriving in the United States in 2006, he has been a well sought after performer.
He currently works with Agbedidi African Ensemble in the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida under the direction of Mohamed DaCosta.
website:
http://nichefaulkner.wix.com/aboubacar-soumah#!bio
facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.145830438781721.20241.100000642960928&#!/aboubacar.soumah.1
