West African Drumming and Dance

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of West African dance and drumming at the Fowler Museum. Dive into the lively rhythms and movements of West African culture with drumming by Aboubacar Kouyate and Gnenemon Soro; and follow a captivating dance class led by Wilfried Souly, renowned choreographer and instructor in the UCLA World Arts and Cultures/Dance.

No experience is needed—just bring your enthusiasm!

Wilfried Souly is a choreographer, dancer, drummer, and Taekwondo expert, originally from Burkina Faso in West Africa. He was trained in African traditional and contemporary dances from a young age in the acclaimed company The Bourgeon du Burkina. In September 2000, he co-founded Compagnie Tâ with two other choreographers and co-choreographed many dance pieces presented around the world, including one work that was selected as a finalist at the fifth Choreographic Encounters of Africa and Indian Ocean in Madagascar. His work in progress, Unsung—a choreographic response to the oppression and marginalization of Black bodies due to systemic racism in the U.S.A. and Neo-colonialism in African countries—was presented at the Dialogue de Corps Festival in Ouagadougou in December 2023. Souly is an aAdjunct professor of African and diaspora dances at the UCLA World Arts and Cultures/Dance, a department from which he also graduated with an M.F.A. in choreographic inquiry.

Aboubacar Kouyate is a master djembe drummer who performs and teaches throughout the United States. He also plays doundoun, tama, and kora; and speaks English, French, SouSou, Malinke, and Fula.

Kouyate was born in Conakry, Guinea and began his djembe training there with master Yadi Camara. Kouyate went on to serve as a musical director and master drummer of The Farita Company and The Sabar Company in Conakry; and later became a master lead drummer with les Ballets Merveilles de Guinea, the premier national dance and drum company founded by Kamoko Sano. He traveled and performed extensively with Merveilles throughout Africa and Europe.

Photo by Nedelka Campbell

Host or Publisher Fowler Museum at UCLA