About African Beats Camp

ABC IS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE WEST AFRICAN MUSIC & DANCE!

Photo credit Mark Dolman ABCD 2010    

We want to give you the opportunity to DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS by attending pre-booked courses over a number of days and we’d like to INSPIRE YOU with AMAZING EVENING PERFORMANCES featuring TOP TEACHERS / ARTISTS AND GROUPS from West Africa and the UK / Europe.

We will ensure that the workshops are not over-crowded and where possible will provide multiple levels so that you can learn with others of a similar experience / ability.

We are going to keep it SMALL AND FRIENDLY – this means you can all fit into our LOVELY INDOOR SPACE to enjoy the evening entertainment together.

For those not attending the workshops there are EVENING ONLY tickets and
NON -WORKSHOP camping tickets where you can just come and soak up the atmosphere and see incredible West African music and dance.

Plus of course we have the usual ESSENTIALS for a HAPPY CAMP EXPERIENCE: Hot showers, toilets, café – African and European food, Di’s hot drinks and cake stall, African crafts and instruments stalls, a therapy zone and a central fire where you can all chill out.

Remember ticket numbers are limited (especially workshop spaces - only 175!), so don’t delay!

Photo credit  Edwin Mitchell-Finch ABCD 2010

Click on the following links for more information below:
Ticket options
Childrens' tickets
Non-workshop tickets
Evening only tickets

Where and when
Workshops and teachers
Information for djembe players
Evening entertainment
Cafe and stalls
Crewing
B&B's / local accommodation

Ticket prices and how to book are under the Booking page of this website


Ticket options

Full event tickets

These tickets include 3 days of workshops, evening performances and camping from 4pm on Friday until midday Tuesday.

You will need to be intermediate level or above in either djembe / dundun, sabar or African dance. These are your main choice of workshops over the three days which you will book before coming to ABC. We are running other workshops which are for mixed abilities including beginners.

Any questions about this? Before contacting us, please see the Frequently asked Questions page: FAQ

We have also have a non-workshop ticket option. See below for more information.


Childrens' tickets

All under 18 year olds must be accompanied by a ticket holding parent/guardian whilst at the event.

A child age 11 upwards, who has studied djembe, sabar or African dance at intermediate level or above, can book a place in the adult level workshops. Spaces are limited. This may be suitable for some under 11’s but please contact us first before booking.

Any 7 - 15 year old can attend the kids' drum course run by Hassan of Drumzkool. This will take place when the adults' djembe / sabar / African dance workshops are running. At all other times there are no workshops specifically for children unless they are attending the adult level workshops.

We regret that we are unable to provide activities specifically for children under 7 and we do not have a creche.


Non-workshop tickets


We have added this ticket to give families / partners the option of coming to the whole event. Workshops are not included and you will not be allowed into workshop areas as this would be unfair on those who have paid the full price. These tickets include camping and evening performances.

Evening only tickets

You can get a ticket to come and see the entertainment on Saturday, Sunday or Monday night. If West African music and dance is new to you, be prepared to be blown away by the artists and groups that will be performing. You'll also be able to peruse the stalls and get a bite to eat before the performances start. Workshops and camping not included.

Updated news May 2011: Evening only ticket holders can now camp overnight for an additional fee of £8 per person (no fee for under 16's to camp). Evening only tickets and camping tickets are to be purchased (cash only) on arrival at the ABC Information Tent. Evening only ticket holders who are camping can arrive at 5.30pm (instead of 6.30pm) and must leave site by 11am the following day. There will be a designated camping area for this.

Where and when

ABC 2011 is being held at Meadow Valley Farm, Thornborough, Nr Buckingham. This is where we held ABCD 2010. We'd like to sincerely thank Claire Morgan for once again hosting our event and particularly for allowing us to extend it from last year's one-day event.

Those with full event tickets or non-workshop tickets can arrive from 4pm on Friday 27th May and leave by midday on Tuesday 31st May.

Evening only ticket holders have on site access from 6.30pm on Saturday, Sunday or Monday.


Workshops and teachers

Photo credit Edwin Mitchell-Finch ABCD 2010
Photo credit   Mr Will, ABC 2009
Photo credit   Mr Will, ABC 2009

Workshops:

There is a maximum number of spaces per workshop to prevent overcrowding.

You will need to select one of the following intensive three-day courses on your ABC Booking Form:

DJEMBE WITH DUNDUN
SABAR
AFRICAN DANCE


These will run during the first session each day on Saturday 12pm - 1.30pm, Sunday and Monday 10am - 1pm. As stated above you will need to be intermediate level or above in the course you select.

There is a further selection of workshops which you will be able to book at the camp from Friday evening. These will run each afternoon from Saturday to Monday until 6pm. You'll be able to choose two from the list below which will run as a two-day course on Saturday and Sunday. You can book a further two workshops to do on Monday which are for one session.

Photo credit Edwin Mitchell-Finch ABCD 2010
Photo credit Mark Dolman ABCD 2010
Photo credit   Mr Will, ABC 2009

AFRICAN DANCE (incl. Guinean style, Casamance and Sabar) - beginners / intermediate and advanced
BALAFON - all levels
BOUGARABOU
- all levels
DJEMBE SOLOING FOR DANCE
DJEMBE SOLOING FOR THE TERRIFIED
- all levels
GHANAIAN DRUMMING
- all levels
MANDINKA SINGING WITH KORA - all levels
SABAR
- beginners / improvers

Photo credit Mark Dolman ABCD 2010

Teachers:

Amdy Ngom - Sabar
Awa Goudiaby - Sabar dance
Batch Gueye - Sabar dance
Ben Lawrence - Ghanaian balafon
Binta Suso and Sura Susso - Mandinka songs with kora
Hans Sutton - Djembe with dundun
Idrissa Camara - African dance
Iya Sako - Djembe with dundun
Karim Mbaye - Sabar
Landing Mane - African dance
Malo Sonko - Bougarabou
Modou Diouf - Sabar
Nansady Keita - Djembe with dundun
Seckou Keita - Djembe with dundun
Tanante - Djembe soloing for the terrified
Vanessa Guevara - African dance
Vieux Bakayoko - Djembe soloing for dance
Yaw Asumadu - Ghanaian drumming


Information for djembe players

This applies to those who are booking the djembe with dundun course.

The overwhelming feedback from participants at ABC 2009 was their appreciation of having an assessment to ensure being in a class with people of similar drumming ability - so we will be doing this again this year. Those attending the djembe workshops will need to attend assessment sessions between 9.30am and 11.30am on Saturday morning (don't worry you won't be asked to play on your own and it's not an exam!). However, it is extremely important that you attend your assessment so that you don’t lose the opportunity to drum at your best level.

At ABC we will have 5 levels of djembe courses, with around 25 to fit into each group. Our policy at ABC is to have equal numbers in the workshops so that none are overcrowded. We know that we won't get an exact number of 25 applying for each level. For example, it's likely we'll get more than 45 people who will all assess themselves to be the same level. So how do we know or how do they know whether they should go up or down a level? It's all relative to which drummers attend ABC. At home you might be an advanced player in your group, but at ABC you might be less advanced compared to others. During the sessions between 9.30 and 11.30 we'll ask you to drum in groups who have all assessed themselves to be a similar level. One of the teachers will divide the groups up. The result of this will be 5 groups who will be able to learn together rather than groups that contain vastly different levels of ability.

The djembe courses include optional dundun sessions on Sunday and Monday. We are going to give you the opportunity to learn the dundun parts for the djembe rhythms you'll be learning. On Sunday and Monday between10 - 10.45am, each group will have a dundun session. If you have dunduns please bring them with you. If you don't have any you may be able to share. This is an optional session. If you don't want to participate you can just watch until the djembe session starts at 11am.

Evening entertainment

Photo credit  Karolina Czaronica, ABC 08/2009
Photo credit   Judith Bijeri, ABCD 2010
Photo credit  Mark Dolman ABCD 2010
Photo credit   Mr Will, ABC 2009 Photo credit  Karolina Czaronica, ABC 2009
Photo credit Edwin Mitchell-Finch ABCD 2010


Friday evening will be a chilled out night where everyone will be arriving, setting up tents and meeting up with friends.

Note: We have an outdoor drumming curfew at 8pm every evening.

Performances below start at 7.30pm and will finish at around midnight.

Saturday 28th May

HAMANA BJEMAKAN
A traditional West African drum and dance troupe led by Vieux Bakayoko. Be prepared for a spectacular performance!
Performers: Ansoumana "Vieux" Bakayoko, Saskia Bakayoko, Rosie Colvin, Amadou "Jinx" Dhigaly, Vanessa Guevara, Nahini Doumbia, Bex Tindle
www.hamanaafrica.co.uk
www.vieuxbakayoko.com

TANANTE
This popular group from Manchester will be performing with Guinean djembé-fola Iya Sako.
Performers: Theresa "Tess" Clarke, Jamie Riley, Simon McCarthy, Iya Sako, John "Beej" Tullo, Sebastian, Dave
www.tanante.co.uk

BATCH GUEYE
Incredible voice, songs with guitar and accompanied by Stefano Vandelli on kora.
www.myspace.com/dancingbatch

AFRICA JUNCTION
A mix of songs, guitars, drums and percussion from local drumming group based in Buckinghamshire.
Performers: Justine Hart, Kate Bruce, Jed Hoile, Ignazio Dentici, Louis Labovitch, Barry Neilsen, Steve Roberts, Steve Southall
www.africa-junction.co.uk


Sunday 29th May

BALLET NIMBA
Combining captivating and energetic contemporary and traditional Guinean dance with live music, song and drama. Directed and choreographed by Idrissa Camara.
Performers: Idrissa Camara, Tetteh Adolf "Amazing" Amatey, Mimi Bior, Mohammed Camara, Sidiki Dembele, Baba Galle, Kenzi Ireland, Awa Goudiaby, Amdy Ngom, Denise Rowe, Ibro Soumah
www.balletnimba.org.uk

SECKOU KEITA
Kora player extraordinaire, singer, composer, djembé-fola..... there is so much we could say about the brilliance of Seckou and his wonderful music.
www.seckoukeita.com

NANSADY KEITA
Nansady is a Guinean djembé-fola (djembe player) and nephew of internationally renowned djembé-master Famoudou Konate. He'll be performing a djembekan (improvised solo).
www.nansadykeita.com

MPE-ASEM

Led by Ben Lawrence, Mpe-asem is a xylophone, and percussion band, composing new music from the folk root of UK and Ghana.
Performers: Ben Lawrence, Chris Hurn, Victoria Gater
www.myspace.com/mpeasem
www.bristoldrumming.com/ghanagoods


Monday 30th May

THE DJINNS
London based, The Djinns are a formidable percussion unit playing their own adaptations of traditional djembe drumming.
Performers: Hans Sutton, Adam Bailey, Lou Ciccotelli, Alicia Davies, Paulo Forcellati, Rob Shipster, Remi Uzdrus
www.myspace.com/thedjinnsoflondon

SABAR DRUM AND DANCE COLLECTIVE

So many stars of sabar drum and dance in one place - performing together just for you - you're going to be blown away!
Performers: Karim M'baye, Modou Diouf, Awa Goudiaby, Batch Gueye, Amdy Ngom, Ela Seydi, Palie Seck, Pap Dieng and others!

SURA SUSSO
Virtuoso kora player Surahata from The Gambia will be performing pieces from his debut 'Sila Kang' album set for release on 20th June 2011. Jelimuso Binta Suso will also join Sura adding her beautiful and powerful voice to create a mesmerising performance.
www.surasusso.com

YAW ASUMADU
Bringing you Ghanaian grooves and songs, Yaw Asumadu is a master drummer and multi-instrumentalist and composer.
www.oziozaa.com

ABC Performers include:

Amdy Ngom (Senegal)
Awa Goudiaby (Senegal)
Baba Galle (Guinea)
Batch Gueye (Senegal)
Ben Lawrence (UK)
Binta Suso (Gambia)
Denise Rowe (UK)
Hans Sutton (UK)
Ibro Soumah (Guinea)
Idrissa Camara (Guinea)
Iya Sako (Guinea)
Karim Mbaye (Senegal)
Landing Mane (Senegal)
Malo Sonko (Senegal)
Modou Diouf (Senegal)
Mohammed Camara (Guinea)
Nansady Keita (Guinea)
Nahini Doumbia (Mali)
Pap Dieng (Senegal)
Palie Seck (Senegal)

Saskia Bakayoko (UK)
Seckou Keita (Senegal)
Sidiki Dembele (Ivory Coast)
Sura Susso (Gambia)
Tetteh Adolf (aka Amazing) Amatey (Ghana)
Vanessa Guevara (Mexico)
Vieux Bakayoko (Senegal)
Yaw Asumadu (Ghana)



Cafe and stalls

This year we are delighted to have at last found a local African caterer who can provide fantastic Ghanaian food. We know she can cater for large numbers as she runs the kitchens in a large local school and this means she is also happy and able cook chips, burgers, jacket pots and fillings too. Food will available all day from breakfast until late evening.

The cafe area will also be serving tea, coffee and chai and Di's scrumptious cakes!

There will also be a licensed bar in the barn, provided by Ebo (from Ghana too!).

There will be a range of stalls selling West African drums, percussion, balafons, clothes, jewellery and crafts.

Djembes for sale both for beginners and professionals.

Photo credit   Mr Will, ABC 08/2009

Chiltern Therapies (Simon Thornton) will be offering a range of complimentary health treatments to relax your tired muscles and a space to really relax.


Crewing

If you are interested in crewing, please contact Rosie by sending an email to:


B&B's / local accommodation

If you don't want to camp, here is a list of local B&B's and accommodation:


 

 

 

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