Teachers & Workshops

Note: we still have some artists and names to announce for the Friday programme which is separate from the other workshops.

See the information below for a list of workshops that these teachers will be running.
We have also provided additional information on some workshops e.g. Less well known instruments

Yaw Asumadu Vieux Bakayoko Idrissa Camara Babacarr Dieng Vicky Dzivenu Nansady Keita Seckou Keita Ben Lawrence Karim M’Baye Landing Mane Simon (Tanante) Jamie (Tanante) Diene Sagna Iya Sako Mockolo Sawane Binta Suso Surahata Susso Hans Sutton Malo Sonko

For information on booking your workshops in advance, see About ABC

Morning Workshops

Ghanaian Drum, Song & Dance: Yaw Asumadu & Vicky Dzivenu
In this four day course of workshops where you will learn rhythms and technique for a Kpanlogo drum and percussion ensemble from the Ga people of Accra. Yaw will also teach you songs with harmony parts. Vicky is leading the Ghanaian dancing. You can choose during the four day course, whether you wish to drum only or to do both drumming and dancing.

Sabar (intermediate/advanced): Babacarr Dieng
This will be a four day course for intermediate/advanced Sabar players. Note: Babacarr will be running these workshops (not Modou Diouf as previously advertised)

Djembe - Vieux Bakayoko, Seckou Keita, Nansady Keita, Iya Sako, Hans Sutton
This is a four day course split into two sections, two days with one teacher and then two days with another.

Level 1 = Hans, Iya
Level 2 = Iya, Vieux
Level 3 = Nansady, Seckou
Level 4 = Seckou, Nansady
See FAQ for more information about how the participant levels will be organised.

There will be designated Dundun players for each workshop. If Dundun is your main instrument and you’ll be bringing your own, you are welcome to play Dundun. Please state this on your Booking Form.

Afternoon Workshops

African Dance: Landing Mane (Beginner/Intermediate)
Originally from Senegal, Landing teaches African Dance of the Manding Music tradition. He is a very accomplished teacher through years of teaching dance in the UK, so this is particularly suited to participants with less dance experience.

African Dance Guinean Ballet style: Idrissa Camara (Advanced)
Idrissa will be teaching choreography, style and songs from the drum and dance ballets of Guinea. Suitable for dancers who already have good grounding in African Dance and are able to learn more complicated moves or work at a faster pace.

Bougarabou: Malo Sonko
The Bougarabou is a Jola drum from the Casamance. One person usually plays a group of two to four drums from a standing up position and they are similar to Congas in tone. If you have any Bougarabou’s bring them with you!

Bolon & Krin: Vieux Bakayoko
The Bolon is a West African Manding harp consisting of 3 strings and a calabash resonator, played by hitting the calabash and plucking the strings. The krin is a “slit drum” originally from the Forest Region of Guinea made from a carved, hollowed out log. It produces different tones by playing the two or three slits with sticks.

Dundun: Hans Sutton (Improver/Intermediate), Nansady Keita (Advanced)
Bring your Dunduns!

Djembe soloing for Dance: Idrissa Camara and Landing Mane
Idrissa will be running a course for 2 days and Landing the other 2 days. This workshop welcomes Djembe players who would like guidance in how to mark steps and interact with the dancers. Dundun players are also invited as well as dancers who would like “dance for drum” experience.

Ghanaian Balafon: Ben Lawrence
Whether you are a new or experienced player, Ben will develop your skills on the Ghanaian Balafon.

Ghanaian Drum and Song: Yaw Asumadu
A shorter session than the morning workshops, so dance is not included.

Mandinka Songs with Kora: Binta Suso and Surahata Susso
Learn some beautiful Mandinka songs with Binta accompanied by Sura on Kora. If you are a Kora player, you are welcome to bring yours to play.

Sabar: Babacarr Dieng (Improver/Intermediate)
Another great opportunity to improve your Sabar skills. Note: Babacarr will be running these workshops (not Modou Diouf as previously advertised)

Sabar Dance: Diene “Vieux” Sagna
Sabar drumming has been part of the UK drum camp scene for over a decade but not the accompnying dance. At last an opportunity to try out this Wolof dance!

Serouba: Mockolo Sawane
The Serouba is three-drum ensemble from The Mandinka people of The Gambia and the Casamance region of Senegal. Similar to Sabar, they are mainly played with a hand and stick and use pegs to tighten the skin. The Serouba is softer in tone than the Sabar and usually accompanied by singing.

Soloing for the terrified: Jamie and Simon from Tanante
Do you usually refuse to do a Djembe solo? You are amongst friends here! Jamie and Simon, from Manchester based group Tanante, will help create a supportive atmosphere, giving you guidance and encouragement to have a go – you won’t be forced to solo either!

Tama: Karim M’Baye
The Wolof talking drum from Senegal is called a Tama. The pitch is altered by squeezing the cords that run the length of the drum’s body whilst hitting the skin head with a curved stick and fingers. The Tama has become a familiar sound within Senegalese popular music and Karim has played with many famous artists including Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal.

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