Additional Resources

Bring drumming to your classroom or community!

African Drumming/Dance Groups in Philadelphia: 

• Kulu Mele: Offers West African, Afro-Cuban, and hip dance and drumming education programs from K-12, as well as in-school assembly performances by their Adult Kulu Mele Company

• Jeannine Osayande & Dunya Performing Arts Company: "Dunya Performing Arts Company members specialize in laying the groundwork for cultural sensitivity through intense study of the elements of various Diaspora West African drum, dance, song, storytelling, and masquerade traditions from Mali, Guinea, Senegal, The Ivory Coast, and Ghana. Our programs offer an artistic platform for participants to create, imagine, ask questions, think critically, and develop skills that can add value to their communities" (from their website).

• Troupe Da-Da: "Troupe Da-Da African Dance and Drum Ensemble will take the children on a journey through West Africa. We will visit Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and more. Accompanied by our percussionists we will learn how to communicate with the drum by learning the Call known as the Break which will guide us through our dance. This call will tell us when to start, stop and change to the next movement. At this time we will learn the steps to the dance that coincide with the region in which our dance comes from. Next we will organize the steps to compile a dance. We will also learn the song that goes with the particular dance. At the end of the residency the children will perform the dance we have learned. Best for PreK-12, students with disabilities, afterschool/community" (from their website).

Djembe drum history and tutorials:

• The Djembe, an instrument played for the king of Mali

• Djembe Play Along for Kids and Beginners

Cajón drum history and tutorials:

• Rhythm in a Box: The Story of the Cajón Drum (Video)

• A Brief History of the Cajón (Text)