Looking forward to the next one…..!

Here’s video from the event:

At the college there will be a chance to experience the multimedia art exhibition “Keeping Memories: The Rwandan Community in the UK exhibition.”

Throughout the day there will also be a whole host of other activities including dance performances and workshops run by Act One Arts Base which is a local, accessible dance organisation run by disabled and non-disabled people.

Performing at 5pm will be ‘The Ghouls’ who are guaranteed to get people dancing to their lively gypsy punk/ska, rock fusion

At 6pm guests will be treated to an African drumming performance by our very own performance band Tanante with special guest Guinean master drummer Iya Sako and our charismatic Senegalese dancer Sens Sagna. Expect music, song and dance from the tribal communities of West Africa.

13-14TH APRIL 2013 in BRISTOL

Not only will Mamady Keita be running djembe workshops, but so too will our friend and band mate Iya Sako, and the other members of our performance troupe Tanante, will be there supporting his workshops on dunduns. Furthermore there will be a evening programme of live music entertainment, including Tanante, with Iya Sako, Hamana, Yiri Baa and more tba…

To be a part of this event really is a once a lifetime opportunity and will celebrate the
visit of a very special musician. We truly hope that it will also bring together a mass a gathering of the unique community of those who love West African music in the UK; from the first time drummer, through to the country’s top talent to make a weekend to remember.

Huge commendations to the good people of Hamana and Bakayoko Music for their continuing work in organising this event; they’re the people you need to ask further detail and book your place. There’s something for everyone on offer; be it your first drum workshop, expert djembe fola’s or those who just want a good night (or two!) out to amazing music, GET YOUR TICKETS BOOKED NOW!!!

See below for what the Hamana people had to say, or visit their website….

Mamady Keita with guest artists Iya Sako, Vieux Bakayoko and Seckou Keita, plus a Guinean dance artist (TBA).

FINALLY !!!! Mamady is coming to the UK!!

Bakayoko Music is proud to present an outstanding weekend of West African Culture. The grand master Mamady Keita will be teaching in Bristol on the 13-14 April 2013. Perhaps the greatest drummer of his generation and now a world-wide phenomenon as a teacher and trailblazer for the rich culture of West African music.

He is coming to the UK for a special weekend of teaching and will teach intermediate and advanced djembe classes (with doundoun presentation) supported on doundoun by Seckou Keita, Iya Sako and Vieux Bakayoko. (wow!!)

The beginners and improvers classes will be given by Iya Sako and Vieux Bakayoko with support from the fabulous drummers of Hamana and Tanante. (wow again!)

There will also be two Guinean dance classes: an all comers (with Saskia Bakayoko) and advanced class with a special guest teacher – Abram Diallo!! These will be supported by the wonderful Hans Sutton and Adam Bailey plus drummers from Hamana and Tanante.

If that’s not enough for you, we also are presenting an evening event in the heart of Bristol in partnership with Tribe of Doris featuring:
Hamana, Tanante, Yiri Baa and more tba … plus guests from the weekend !!!!!!!!!!

This is a once in a lifetime weekend, possibly the best line up of teachers the UK has seen, catering for all levels and entertaining you to the max.

There will also be onsite catering that you can book in advance providing fantastic tasty food to keep you going.

Booking: http://www.hamanaafrica.co.uk/mk-2013/

The enthusiastic groups of three to four year olds joined the workshops dressed in their own home made African clothes and were wearing the fantastic masks that they had made. Each child displayed amazing drumming skills through the fun activities that we lead. They especially enjoyed playing the games ‘we are the elephants’ and ‘rumble in the jungle’.

After the workshops had finished the children got to show their parents how good they were with our end performance. Teachers, helpers and parents were treated to the beautiful sounds of the balafon. They then joined our drumming performance with singing and clapping. Big thanks to Andy Garvey for playing dun duns and the balafon, and to Jo fallows for organizing such a lovely event. We had a great time and would love to come back and do it all again!

We started with a short drumming performance in the entrance hall to welcome people to the event. Playing some traditional drumming rhythms and songs from Sens’ native land of The Cassamance region (Southern Senegal), and with it we lifted the energy in the space and drummed up some interest for the workshops too.

As we started the first workshop, we found to our surprise the students were already very good at drumming. We played some games and taught them about West African culture and the origins of the djembe drum before moving on to the main rhythm with three complex interlocking parts.

During our workshops a photographer from the Bury Times came and took photographs of us playing with the drumming students wearing our African tops. We then continued to practice for our big performance.

As the drums were being loaded onto the stage we caught the end of a fantastic pet show where all manner of furry creatures were being brought up onto the stage into a pet awards ceremony.

Now it was our turn. The stage was filled with the 30 drummers all colourfully dressed in our West African clothes and arranged into a giant semi-circle with Sens behind on the dun-duns (bass drums). We started with a Senegalese song in the Mandinka language, played our introduction arrangement and broke out into our main rhythm ‘Balakulindja’. By this point most of the audience were clapping and singing along. Suddenly from behind his dun-duns the fantastic Sens leaped onto the centre of the stage and danced gracefully and energetically to the beat of the drums, amazing the audience and the drummers with his movement and energy! As the performance ended we thanked all the drummers for playing so well and remembering all the complex parts.

We were later told that this event raised £2500 for orphaned children in Uganda.

We at Drumroots were touched by everyone involved in the Bury African outreach charity but especially moved by Betsy Keating for her passion and commitment to helping to change the lives of some of the poorest people in East Africa specifically orphaned children in Uganda.

A huge thank you to Sens, Betsy and to all of our drummers from St Gabriels High school.

Co-operatives United was an inspiring and fun filled global festival of events and exhibitions to mark the close of the United Nations international year of Co-operatives 2012, which was set in the prestigious and spacious ‘Manchester Central’ convention complex at the heart of the city, formerly known as the G-mex.

Our drumming was just a small part of the many, presentations, activities, workshops and performances that were on offer at this global event; upon arrival we were free to explore the venue and shown our area; the life size Co-operative mock up town, complete with shops, bar, church, and park with a band stand where we were to perform.

For the scheduled performance we were joined, for this special occasion. by two of our most valued and committed workshop members, brothers Francis and Dom Galligan who are accustomed to performing with the Drumroots community band. Also joining us was the incredibly talented Gambian dancer Jokeh of Santa Yalla Arts. We were also encouraged to explore the rest of the venue with pitches and exhibitions of fair trade co-operatives, and how they interact and help people from all around the world.

Not only did our performance offer people the chance to listen to some West African djembe music, but gave them the chance to join in with clapping, singing and even dance as Jokeh literally went around pulling people out of the audience and encouraging them to dance let go and move to the music!

Performances done, we said goodbye to the band and got set up for workshops and after an announcement that we were about to start, we were joined by a full complement of people of all ages and backgrounds for two sessions on an introduction to African drumming and how to play a djembe. All participants joined in enthusiastically and later thanked us and told us that we really made the space come to life.

Big thanks to our community band members, Dom and Francis, to our dancer Jokeh, and to Jenny from the Co-operative group for looking after us.

Joining us for the event and on the bill will be the outstanding African Drumming troupe, Kontaani. This hard working collective from Macclesfield are incredible to watch and perform with awesome energy and good vibes.

There will also be an early evening dance workshop to kick things off and later on DJ’s playing a range of quality African dance music.

Just to wet your appetite, here’s a video of one of the Beat Artistes, featuring Iya Sako, recent performances at Manchester’s Parklife festival. Watch the video then read on for details of the African Dance party, we’ll see you there!

Date: 27th October 2012 20.00-24.00
Venue: The COG Center, Unit 4-5, Palmerston Street, Joiners Sqaure, Stoke on Trent, ST1 3EU View Google Map
Price: £5, http://www.ticketline.co.uk/african-dance-party#bio
For details: Davel Wooley; 07840941393
Facebook: Click here

For those who have never heard of Protection Racket; these high quality bags come in all different sizes, are made of hardy materials and will last an age, keeping your drum safe in day life and in transport. Features include, tough, water resistant outer fabric, massive, strong zips (top and side), side storage pouch and are wool lined on the inside (for a full lowdown, visit thier website). We’ve used these bags on foot, in airplanes and trains, in vans and vehicles across the globe and they are the best bags for cycling with a djembe on your back!

As well as all their standard sizes, we will be bringing in extra stock of custom build bags to fit** our pro Guinea Lenke djembes and can also order custom sized  bags if you have an unusual size or shape of drum.

***The custom sized bags to fit our pro Guinea Lenke djembes are now in stock! Get in touch asap to reserve yours…..

We thoroughly enjoyed working with such an accomplished group of musicians who seemed to be really inspired, not just by the African music that we taught, but the possibilities of using the positive power of drumming in their own work.

Many thanks to all the Nordoff Roobbins students and the tutors.

Here below is some info on Nordoff Robbins. For more, visit their website to see the great work they do!

“WHO WE ARE…

Nordoff Robbins is a national music charity dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and adults across the UK.

• We use music therapy and other music services to help a range of people with a range of challenges such as autism, dementia, mental health problems, stroke, brain injury, depression and life-threatening or terminal illnesses, such as cancer. All of the people we help have one uniting factor – music dramatically improves their quality of life.
• We provide professional Masters training for music therapists, along with various short courses and workshops which are open to everyone interested in learning more about music and well-being.
• Our Research work is building the evidence for music therapy and helps us inform and train the practitioners of the future.

We are part of an international network of Nordoff Robbins organisations all drawing inspiration from the innovative work of our founders Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins.

No other organisation uses music to reach so many people, in so many contexts, with such consistently high levels of expertise. The power of music affects us all – through Nordoff Robbins it can transform lives.”