''Ni kan tiyen, sewa tiyen. Ni sewa tiyen, kantiyen'', ''Without music there is no joy, without joy there is no music'', Malinke proverb
BoumBoum has been providing tuition in traditional West African drumming and song in Music Services, schools, community groups, colleges and businesses for over twenty years, first;y in the Midlands, and for the past eleven years from our
base in Cornwall.
The Malinke/Mandeng rhythms that we work with are from a great tradition, at least 700 years old, that is still very much alive in West Africa today. There, the drums of a community are used to bring people together to share experiences, celebrate rites of passage and important events, and to strengthen community bonds through music. It's a way of being that has been largely unlearnt by the West, and that has much to teach us. The link below will take you to watch a stunning short film, Foli, by Thomas Roebers, which conveys brilliantly the importance and tradition of Mandeng rhythm.
base in Cornwall.
The Malinke/Mandeng rhythms that we work with are from a great tradition, at least 700 years old, that is still very much alive in West Africa today. There, the drums of a community are used to bring people together to share experiences, celebrate rites of passage and important events, and to strengthen community bonds through music. It's a way of being that has been largely unlearnt by the West, and that has much to teach us. The link below will take you to watch a stunning short film, Foli, by Thomas Roebers, which conveys brilliantly the importance and tradition of Mandeng rhythm.
Learning to play the djembe and dunun drums of the Malinke/Mandeng people of West Africa is part of a long and vital tradition! The word associated with West African music by many groups across the world is the Malinke ''sewa'', meaning joy - and BoumBoum Drum Workshops celebrate that, by teaching West African rhythm and song across all age groups, from pre-school to post-retirement. This website will introduce you to what we offer, and give you links to more information about the culture and traditions of the Mandeng.
Since first studying djembe over twenty years ago, Amanda Pickering, BoumBoum's lead musician, has seen the popularity of West African rhythm and dance grow exponentially in the UK. This website describes what BoumBoum can bring to your project or classroom, and also provides links to the events and teachers throughout the UK, who are working to generate awareness of a very special musical genre.
Please contact us if there's more you'd like to know, or if you're interested in workshops, instruments, classes, projects or performances.