13 July 2010

West African Drumming? Yes please!

| TheStreet
drumming

I you like drumming, drumming circles, and all things drums (or just like to have a dance), maybe check out MANDINKA SOUND, a touring show coming to the Street Theatre on July 27 and 28.

On a national tour through regional and metropolitan centres in Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and the Northen Territory supported by Kultour, Mandinka Sound is an innovative collaboration from Melbourne-based West African acts, Muhanamwé and One Africa.

One Africa unites Gambian multi-instrumentalist King Marong with Senegalese dancer/drummer/vocalist Lamine Sonko. King Marong has been performing professionally since the age of 12. With his bands Kunta Kinteh, King Marong and Afro Mandinko, King has built a reputation as a master of African drumming styles on instruments such as the Djembe, Boucarabou, Doundoun and Sabar, performing and teaching percussion around the world. Swift, stylish and electrifying, Lamine Sonko hails from a famous Senegalese griot musical family and has performed internationally alongside such greats as Youssou Ndour, Vivianne Ndour and Fatou Nguewel Diouf, and in Australia with his own dynamic group Asiko. Together, Lamine and King Marong create a hypnotic repertoire of original songs which fuse traditional West African culture and contemporary Australian influences.

Muhanamwé has emerged from the dense and vibrant undergrowth of Melbourne’s world music scene as one of its freshest and most exciting percussion and dance ensembles. The group was established in 2007 by Guinean master drummers Aliou Sylla (Les Percussions de Guinée) and Mohamed Camara (Les Sorciers de Guinée) and features Ghanaian master dancer Appiah Annan and percussionists Anna Camara and Anita Larkin. Compelling rhythms, raw vocal harmonies, rippling balafon melodies, stunning costumes and superhuman dance moves combine to make Muhanamwé an unforgettable experience.

Through performance and an exclusive drumming workshop in association with Drum Effect on Tuesday 27 July, Mandinka Sound will showcase the depth and beauty of West African culture from traditional to contemporary music, dance and costume.

For information on the Drum Effect workshop with Muhanamwé, email info@drumeffect.com.au or book online at www.drumeffect.com.au
VENUE Street 1, The Street Theatre, Childers St Canberra
SEASON Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 July @ 8pm
TICKETS $20/ $15
Workshop attendees $10 (Tues show only! Book thru Box Office)
BOOKINGS 6247 1223 or www.thestreet.org.au

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