Family Drum Workshop and Demonstration with Azania Drum

Join us on Sunday February 5th for an afternoon of family fun and community building with Azania Drum. During this workshop, core members for the Azania Drum collective will provide participants with a brief history on the rich cultural significance of Djembe and Dunun drums, as well an instructional demonstration – allowing participants to explore sound and produce collective rhythms utilizing the drums.

Drums will be available, but individuals who own Djembe or Dunun drums are encouraged to bring them to this workshop!

This program is offered in collaboration with Music Moves Chi.

About Azania Drum:

The purpose of the Azania Drum is to mentor children and young adults by building discipline, leadership, and teamwork through the lens of West African music and culture. Azania Drum represents leadership, dedication, and a willingness to learn and work as a team through West African music. Started in 2000 by both the late Baba Meshach Silas, and Mama Ann Ward, housed at Betty Shabazz International Charter School, Azania added an entirely new element of culture, creativity, and history to Chicago catering to children wanting to learn to play Djembe and DunDuns. Azania continued after Baba Meshach’s passing by Mama Ann and Baba Atiba, and began playing for Doinia dance, a children’s West African dance group, headed by the late Mama Niambi and now headed by Mama Imani Amos. Soon after, Baba John Chapman and Baba Desmond Owusu took the helm under the advising of Baba Atiba and it has grown into a performance ensemble that is developing more every year.

Host or Publisher Garfield Park Conservatory