West African Drumming with Fana Soro
What: West African Drumming with Fana Soro
Who: Grades 5 - 12
Where: Osgoode Youth Association (O-YA); 5479 Osgoode Main Street, Osgoode
When: Tuesday May 28, 2024
Time: 6 pm - 7 pm
Cost: $10
Questions? Email [email protected]
Fana Soro introduces participants to traditional rhythms and songs of the djembé, West Africa’s most popular drum. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the drumming connected to the dances and songs of the Senoufo culture.
More about the artist: Fana Soro is a hereditary master of the balafon, West Africa’s big wooden xylophone. Fana hails from the Senoufo tribe in northern Cote d’Ivoire and spent 9 years as a member of the prestigious Ballet National de Cote d’Ivoire touring England, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, Martinique and West Africa. In 1990, he moved to Norway to perform throughout the Norwegian educational system and work as Artist in Residence at the International Children’s Museum in Oslo. From there, Fana continued to tour throughout Northern Europe with the celebrated West African group, Super Djembé Kan. In 1997, Fana moved to Vancouver and formed Masabo, a performance group specializing in traditional West African music, dance and story. Fana and his family have made their home in Ottawa since 2010.
All of the indigenous workshops being offered as part of our culture in the community program is thanks to the support of Cree artist, Kate-Lynn Wells - Earth Dance who raised money this past fall by designing orange shirts and selling them. As requested by Kate-Lynn (Earth Dance) All monies raised from the sale of these shirts was donated to O-YA to be used in partnering with rural communities in providing indigenous cultural teachings and/or raising awareness for indigenous peoples and communities and we are proud to be able to offer this evening due to these efforts.
More about Kate-Lynns Orange Shirt Project
Cree artist, Kate-Lynn Wells - Earth Dance painted a picture at 11 years of age, from a photograph taken of her and Gitxsan friend at their first powwow together and had it printed on orange shirts this fall. Both of these indigenous youth are intergenerational residential school survivors who are proud to be able to celebrate and immerse themselves in their culture openly and freely today. This picture marks the start of a friendship and their journey to learn their culture, an opportunity that was taken from so many before them.
