Back from four months in his home country of Guinea, West Africa, Kocassale Dioubate and his partner Sasha Belle Hunt will stop in the Comox Valley to present three workshops for African music and rhythm enthusiasts.
You can learn new and exciting djembe and dunun (bass) drum rhythms from master drummer and griot Dioubate, and dance away the winter blues, grooving African-style, with contemporary artist Sasha Belle Hunt.
Dioubate, from the Mandingo (or Malinke) tribe of Guinea, West Africa, is a descendant of his tribe’s djeliba (also known as griots) — traditional storytellers, entertainers, musicians, praise singers, counsellors, and mediators: those who keep and preserve the tribe’s oral history and tradition, known to have deep connections to the spiritual, social and political powers.
Dioubate was born into this inherited lineage of arts and entertainment as well as social skill, and has been playing and creating music, along with dancing, since his early childhood, ever since he was old enough to walk. His mission is to celebrate, share and educate about his roots and rich cultural heritage. He strives to exchange both the knowledge of ancient tradition as well as fresh new ideas and modern advancements with peoples from all around the globe, participating in ongoing cultural exchanges and teaching workshops to people from all backgrounds and abilities.
Hunt is B.C.-born and raised, but has travelled extensively, driven by a passion to learn about, taste and experience different cultures of the world and also their art forms. She lived in Mexico and Central America from the age of 18 through 25, where she developed her passion for percussion and dance, and where she studied, performed and toured with several different groups and performance troupes of different genres, including Mexican folkloric, Afro-Cuban, world-fusion and West-African.
Now living in B.C. with partner Dioubate, she continues to study, teach and perform West-African music and dance.
Join Dioubate and Hunt this Saturday at the Fallen Alders Hall on Royston Road for three workshops. There will be a jam session following all workshops from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Everyone who attended any or all of the workshops is welcome.
Local drumming instructor and drum circle facilitator Monica Hofer (http://rhythm-spirit.blogspot.com) is hosting these workshops. Pre-register by e-mailing Hofer at drumdeva@gmail.com or calling 250-338-1444.
— Rhythm Spirit