Bringing BoumBoum into your youth or community group to give a workshop can be a fun and stimulating way to inspire confidence in your members. People often discover a new voice, and working together to create the rhythms is a fantastic group activity which strengthens social and communication skills.

''It was a real pleasure to work with you, and although it was a small group the young women who took part really enjoyed the workshop. In fact I think they were completely inspired. Thank you for your energy and enthusiasm.'' Cornwall WRSAC

Open community class, Penzance, Humphry Davy School

BoumBoum runs regular West African drumming workshops, teaching traditional Malinke rhythms on djembes and doundouns.

Classes are held in Penzance in the Drama Hall, Humphry Davy School on Coombe Road, at beginners and improvers levels. We're currently on a summer break, but will start up again in September -  on Thursdays 7-8 for beginners, 8-9.30 for intermediate players. Cost £4.50 per session, instruments provided, challenge and fun guaranteed! Teaching led by Claire Simpson and Amanda Pickering will introduce beginners to core rhythms and instrumental technique, while intermediate players can develop their knowledge of the tradition to work with solos, improvisation and dance accompaniments.

Yelemunye, Cape Cornwall School, St Just

This community and student group meets and performs from Cape Cornwall Secondary School, St Just. The group is open to local people who want to get involved, and to join the core group of 10 student players who are currently working towards making a trip to Senegal in 2009 to share musical traditions with students in Abene, in the Casamance region.

If you're interested in joining, please contact Kevin Lane, Head of Music at Cape Cornwall on 01736 788501, or Amanda Pickering at boumboum@boumboum.co.uk.

Kookoogii (koh-koh-jee meanng 'sea' in Malinke)

Kookoogii is BoumBoum's performance group, developed out of local classes and featuring nine accomplished musicians and dancers honouring the Malinke drumming tradition. If you're interested in seeing us, watch this space for gigs of contact us at boumboum@boumboum.co.uk. We bring high energy performance to every gig, and can offer a range of sets to suit your event or ceremony.

Mory 'Iya' Sako

BoumBoum is very proud to be associated with Iya Sako, Guinean djembefola and teacher, with whom we've developed a working relationship since meeting him in Conakry in 2007. Iya is now based in Hebden Bridge, and is making a steady impact on the UK drumming scene - he will be visiting the South West again in 2009 to work with our community and school groups - please  get in touch if you'd like to attend workshops from the true Malinke source! Iya is a patient and experienced teacher, who imparts his music in the traditional Malinke teaching style of 'repetitions' - but is also able to offer the challenge of 1:1 advanced level teaching of solos and technique.

More information on Iya at www.iyasako.co.uk. You can also catch him teaching alongside Nansady Keita at this year's WOMAD Festival in Wiltshire, or at the Glen Isla Drum Village this August.

Scummow Band Golowan Festival

 Penzance 2004

BoumBoum community class

Mory 'Iya' Sako