People from across the world will pour into St. Louis on Thursday, May 21 for Africa United Ballet’s first ever Grandmaster Djembe Xplosion.
The four-day drum conference will take place at Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center, 5415 Page Blvd., May 21-24.
Seven drum instructors from Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, New York and Chicago will lead more than 20 workshops and demonstrations focusing on the rhythms played on the djembe and dununs, types of African hand drums. In addition, the instructors will discuss African history and culture.
The event is the brainchild of Bolokada Conde, a Malinke master drummer from Guinea, and Malena Amusa, a producer and dancer from St. Louis.
“With seven pioneers of African drum, from Africa and America, teaching so many intensive sessions at once, the demand has been tremendous for this conference, with drummers flying in from all over,” Amusa said.
Proceeds from the conference will benefit the Africa United Ballet International Inc., a new touring company Conde and Amusa started.
“We are asking everybody to support Africa United and this big conference,” Conde said. “We are uniting the top artists from across West Africa to feed a global need for the djembe and the music and dance that makes people happy, makes people want to change their life.”
Djembe X will feature instructors Bolokada Conde; Moussa Traore, a Mali godfather of the djembe; Mangue Sylla, reigning king of the dunun orchestra, and a virtuoso grandmaster of traditional and ballet symphonies of Guinea; St. Louis’ own Caph Guei of the Ivory Coast; Khadyjah Harper of New York City; and Michael Taylor and Tosha Alston of Chicago.
“To be able to launch Djembe X in St. Louis is amazing,” Amusa said. “It is definitely a tribute to the early pioneers, such as the great master drummer Mor Thiam, from Senegal, who blazed the trail for djembe drumming in St. Louis and nationally. We have always been a major hub of African arts and will continue to spring forth from this legacy.”
Amusa, Conde, and Africa United Ballet have organized this event in conjunction with Earth Rhythms Healing in St. Louis and Better Family Life, Inc.’s 30th anniversary Black Dance USA.
“Black Dance USA has an incredible program every year,” Amusa said. “Adding the drum conference means St. Louis will be home to two epic drum and dance events, taking place at the same time, in the same venue.”
For more information and registration, call Malena Amusa at (314) 458-4282 or visit http://www.africaunitedint.com/#!xplosion-2015/c24bq.
