Two Traditions from West Africa
Guinea and Burkina Faso Drumming Master Class
August 27-30, Helsinki
Challenge yourself with top specialists in melodic djembe playing. Meet one of the world’s most respected elder master drummer Famoudou Konate from Guinea together with internationally recognized djembefola representing the rising generation griot Zoumana Dembele from Burkina Faso.
In a 4-day international djembe and dundun master class you will experience African polyrhythms at it’s peak. Long pedagogical experience of both teachers provides a dive into the web of West African music.
Master Class Teachers
Grand Master Famoudou Konate leads you into the musics and cultures of Guinea in his warm and crystal clear style. He approaches the rhythm entities from the melodic perspective of the dundun drums (ie. basslines) opening up the dialogue between the different roles of the drums.
Famoudou Konaté is a world-renowned virtuoso of the djembe drum and its orchestra. One of only a handful of initiated Masters of the Malinké drumming tradition, Famoudou is universally respected as one of the world’s premiere djembe Drum Masters. He has dedicated his life to performing and preserving the music of his people, helping to elevate the djembe orchestra from its traditional roots to worldwide popularity.
Famoudou was born in 1940 near Sangbarala, a village in the Hamana region of Upper Guinea, the Malinké heartland and the birthplace of the Dunun family of rhythms. A percussive prodigy, he was drumming in community festivals at the age of eight and was soon in demand as a djembefola across the region. From 1959 to 1985, Famoudou was the Lead Djembe Soloist for Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée, touring the world and performing with astounding virtuosity. During this time, Famoudou himself created many of the musical arrangements now common in West African performance groups worldwide.
Since 1986, he has taught and performed annually throughout Europe, Japan, Israel, North America and West Africa, instilling a generation of non-African drummers with an extraordinary level of training. In 1996 he received an honorary professorship in Didactics of African Musical Practice from University of the Arts Berlin. He has produced 7 CDs, including his latest Hamana Namun.
Famoudou’s videos:
Griot Master Drummer Zoumana Dembele shares the rich musical heritage of Burkina Faso. You will understand the African concept of polyrhythm and how it is applied in the music. Zoumana digs into the root of the rhythms for deeper experience of the musical content.
Zoumana (born 1975 in Burkina Faso) adds a griot dimension to the master class. He is one of the best djembefolas of his generation and highly revered by internationally renowned elder masters like Mamady Keita and Adama Drame. Burkina Faso’s “Buena Vista Social Club” formation Korole Foly (play of the elders) invited Zoumana among them to continue the tradition. Zoumana’s melodic style of djembe playing can be viewed at the clips linked below. He is widely versatile griot musician singing and playing tama (talking drum), kamelen n’goni (traditional harp), dunduns (bass drums), khassonka dunduns, calabash drum etc.
Since 1998, Zoumana has won prizes in his home country Burkina Faso both solo and with his ensemble Landaya. He was nominated the Principale de Djembe, the best djembefola, at national Tam Tam Festival 2006. Zoumana has travelled widely and collaborated with artists like Momo Wandel Soumah (Guinea), Dobet Gnahoren (Ivory Coast), Habib Koité (Mali), Sidiki Camara (Mali), Pierre Vaiana (Belgia) and Baba Cissoko (Mali).
Zoumana’s videos:
- Burkina Faso’s masters’ ensemble promotional video
- Official solo djembe Bagolon Kan 2013
- Movie “In the Blood: Portarit of a Griot” -trailer
- Band performance in Finland
Target group
The master class is targeted to intermediate and advanced players.
Programme
Thu, Aug 27th
- 10.00-14.00 Morning session (3h workshop + 1h lunch from 11.30)/Famoudou Konate
- 14.30-16.30 Afternoon session (2h)/Famoudou Konate
- 17.00-20.15 Evening session (3h workshop + 15 min break)/Zoumana Dembele
Fri, Aug 28th
- 10.00-14.00 Morning session (3h workshop + 1h lunch from 11.30)/Zoumana Dembele
- 14.30-16.30 Afternoon session (2h)/Zoumana Dembele
- 17.00-20.15 Evening session (3h workshop + 15 min break)/Famoudou Konate
Sat, Aug 29th
- 10.00-14.00 Morning session (3h workshop + 1h lunch from 11.30)/Famoudou Konate
- 14.30-16.30 Afternoon session (2h)/Famoudou Konate
- 17.00-20.15 Evening session (3h workshop + 15 min break)/Zoumana Dembele
Sun, Aug 30th
- 10.00-14.00 Morning session (3h workshop + 1h lunch from 11.30)/Zoumana Dembele
- 14.30-16.30 Afternoon session (2h)/Zoumana Dembele
- 17.00-20.15 Evening session (3h workshop + 15 min break)/Famoudou Konate
Instruments
Djembe and dundun drums, chant. All instruments are provided on spot, however you can also bring your own drum.
Venue
Rehearsal Hall Paavo, The Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo), Mannerheimintie 13 A, Helsinki, Finland
Participation fee
To provide the best learning experience for participants, we encourage full-program participation and therefore prioritize participants with Maxi and Grand packages.
Priority registration for Maxi and Grand packages (before July 6):
Maxi package, 32 h (4 days x 3h morning, 2h afternoon and 3h evening sessions) – 250 euros
Grand package, 20h (4 days x 2h afternoon and 3h evening sessions) – 190 euros
Early registration reduction (July 7 – July 13):
Maxi package, 32 h (4 days x 3h morning, 2h afternoon and 3h evening sessions) – 250 euros
Grand package, 20h (4 days x 2h afternoon and 3h evening sessions) – 190 euros
Morning package, 12h (4 days x 3h morning sessions) – 150 euros
Evening package, 12h (4 days x 3h evening sessions) – 150 euros
Afternoon package, 8h (4 days x 2h afternoon sessions) – 90 euros
One full day, 8h (3h+2h+3h) – 90 euros
Fee after July 13th:
Maxi package, 32 h (4 days x 3h morning, 2h afternoon and 3h evening sessions) – 290 euros
Grand package, 20h (4 days x 2h afternoon and 3h evening sessions) – 220 euros
Morning package,12h (4 days x 3h evening sessions) – 175 euros
Evening package, 12h (4 days x 3h evening sessions) – 175 euros
Afternoon package, 8h (4 days x 2h afternoon sessions) – 110 euros
One full day, 8h (3h+2h+3h) – 105 euros
Please note that places are limited. To ensure your participation, please
- register yourself by sending an email with the subject “Masterclass participation 2015” to masterclassfinland(at)gmail.com
- pay the participation fee at your earliest convenience to Djembepaja account: Aakusti Oksanen, IBAN: FI22 1268 3500 0110 84, BIC: NDEAFIHH
- finalize your registration by sending bank transfer confirmation to masterclassfinland(at)gmail.com
Please print out the complete master class info sheet .pdf here
More information
- masterclassfinland(at)gmail.com
- +358 (0)45 655 55 58
- www.djembepaja.fi
- masterclassfinland(at)gmail.com
- +358 (0)40 707 5977
- www.afroahjo.fi
This program is brought to you by Djembepaja and Afroahjo in collaboration with University of The Arts Helsinki Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department.