Hello dear lovers of rhythm!
Exciting announcements from the rhythm front:
- My friend, mentor and teacher Kocassale Dioubate, Master Djembefola and 16th Generation Griot, from Guinea West Africa will be at the Royston Community Hall JULY 5 – 6th, bringing us his usual energetic drum classes in djembe and duns.
This year we have the honour of having Koca do a mini-concert for us in lieu of a last class at the end of the workshops on Sunday; Koca tells stories with his songs, weaving them beautifully together with masterful djembe, kora, krin and balafon music — this is something you don’t want to miss! It is always a very special opportunity to be able to watch, listen to and drum with a Master and to learn authentic West African rhythms straight from the “source”!
Koca’s mission is to celebrate, share and educate — all of which he does with love, laughter and lots of encouragement! All levels welcome!
I encourage ALL of my students, past and present, to attend (the whole weekend if you can!) and be open to soaking up the magic of Koca’s teaching and presence, whether or not you end up “learning” the rhythms!
For more information on Koca, please go to his website: kundaculture.com
Details on the workshops in the Koca flyer 2025. Please note: if you intend to attend only the concert, the cost is the same as for one class ($25).
Registration is through me, Monica; I would appreciate pulling together numbers ASAP. Please let me know if you’re coming, which workshops/concert you are attending, and how you intend to pay (pre-payment is required to hold your spot & I do not do etransfer).
Email me: FMI and to register.
- On the weekend of August 16-17 at the Royston Community Hall you will have another amazing opportunity to participate in workshops led by two incredible musicians, Robin Layne and Bobby Bovenzi.
Bobby and Robin have put together an awesome program of marimba, djembe, duns, dance moves and more! This unique combination of workshops and artists makes for an exciting weekend indeed….
Saturday: Marimba 10 am – 12 noon, lunch, Drumming 1 – 3 pm
Sunday: Marimba 11 am – 1 pm, break, Drumming 2 – 4 pm followed by jam/circle & finger food potluck 4:30 – 6 pm ish
Class size limited to 12 for marimba workshops (so register early); no limit for drumming workshops (but please indicate whether you have your own djembe/dun when registering).
Dununs, Djembes and Marimbas are available for no extra fee.
Cost: One workshop $40, each additional workshop $30.
Photos attached and more details below.
Please note that there is a planned finger food potluck and jam circle at the end of the weekend, finishing up in time for folks to head out to Goose Spit for more drumming fun starting around 7 pm….
Registration is, again, through me, Monica; I would appreciate pulling together numbers ASAP. Please let me know if you’re coming, which workshops you are attending, and how you intend to pay (pre-payment is required to hold your spot & I do not do etransfer).
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Here is some further info on Bobby and the workshops he is offering:
Saturday Drumming Workshop– Black Mamba Hip Hop/Funk rhythm on 3 piece Dunun set and Djembe, with African American Step Dance moves. This unique rhythm is a Bobby Bovenzi original piece that is fun to play and easy to learn. The Djembe and Dunun rhythms match the Step Dance moves, incorporating body rhythms and stomps!
Sunday Drumming Workshop- Open with warm up learning the Hok San Lion Dance style drumming on individual Dununs, Djembe, cymbals and Gong. We will then focus on Jambo Bwana from Kenya, learning the rhythms to accompany the Marimba patterns from the workshop. We will also learn the song and some basic dance moves to create a finished piece.
***Bobby Bovenzi is a full time Master Rhythm Circle Facilitator contracting with Central and South Okanagan School Districts over the past 25 years. His work is renowned throughout the valley as highly engaging, easily accessible and incredibly fun! Bobby has conducted thousands of workshops in Bali, Japan, Mexico, Hawaii, USA and Canada. His main instrument is the West African Djembe and Dunun stick drums, but he is also versed in Congas, Darbuka, Dhol, Cajon, Kponlogo and hand held percussion instruments. More info www.babaroots.ca
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And here is some further info from Robin:
In his Saturday workshop, Robin will be teaching two marimba rhythms – one from Columbia and one from Mexico. On Sunday, you will learn two more rhythms, one from Cuba and the Jambo Bwana rhythm from Kenya which will be enhanced upon later in the day in Bobby’s Sunday afternoon workshop.
robinlayne.ca FMI
Altogether, this looks to be an interesting weaving and collaboration which is bound to ignite and integrate both hemispheres of the brain, leaving us all invigorated and smiling!