Master drummer Zoumana Dembele and his griot family welcome you to their musical home in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, West Africa. This year we have focused our efforts on providing an even smoother course experience with an even higher artistic spectrum and standard. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and authentic African experience that will leave each and every camp member feeling that their trip to the heart of Africa has been a success and a journey full of uplifting and eye-opening experiences that will stay with them long after they return home.
This year we are sharpening still our focus and make some improvements. One big change is offering this course to Zoumana's students from all over Europe. Also, cutting the course from four weeks to three allows us to offer a more compact package of unique African excellence. This means offering a wider range of courses catering to the needs of both dancers and drummers of all levels. Drummers will be divided into two groups: beginner and advanced. Dancers can dance up to four hours a day. This wider range of levels and courses means that everyone can compile a course schedule that caters to their own needs. Furthermore, we've brought in a professional chef who will fill your stomachs with delicious local meals and take your requests on international dishes.
Intermediate and advanced/ master classes will be taught by master Zoumana himself, who will lead his students to build on their solid drumming skills and plunge them deep into the depths and intricacies of African rhythms. Students will be challenged to take on entire African rhythm compilations, including both djembe and dundun melodies, songs and original solos.
Dancers will learn choreographies and study the dynamics of African dance under the expert guidance of three accomplished Burkinabe talents: Seydou Traore, Mama Sanou and Munjusi Coulibaly (see picture). The lessons will be geared towards students with previous culminate in a concert showcasing the music of Zoumana's prized group Landaya and the dancing of the course members. This will be an opportunity for the dancers to perform the choreographies learned during the course as well as for everyone to enjoy the music of Landaya. Landaya has received many awards during its history, most recently during the 2010 camp at the AfroZig-festival.
Beginners will be nurtured under the expert teaching of Siaka Keita, the second soloist of Landaya, who is known for the unique feel of his drumming. Under his expert guidance students will ease into the basic rhythms and techniques of both the djembe and the dunduns. Twice daily lessons with him mean that you'll be playing away with 'le feeling' in no time.
The camp will take place for three weeks from Dec. 31, 2012 to Jan. 18, 2013. Arrival via Ouaga to
Bobo during the previous weekend and return at the end of the last week.
Prices 920€ (3 weeks), 690€ (2 weeks) include:
- Lessons 5 days a week, Monday through Friday
- Drumming for beginners 10-12 am and 3-5 pm
- Dance lessons 9-11 am and 3:30 – 5:30 pm
- Intermediate and advanced djembe master class 10–12 am and 4-6 pm
- Two meals a day (breakfast and lunch, except on excursion days)
- Accomodation in close vicinity of the course venue
- Bus transportation to and from Ouagadougou
- A trip to the Falls in Banfora (transport and guide)
- A guided tour of Djilassoba (the old town of Bobo-Dioulasso)
Campers are responsible for
- Visa and passport
- Flights to Ouagadougou
- Medical and travel insurance
- Vaccinations and medications, esp. malaria
- Evening meals and free time activities,
Contact information for all questions concerning the camp
In Finland: paja@djembepaja.fi or +358-45-655 55 58/Aakusti Oksanen
In Burkina Faso +226–76 61 04 95/Zoumana Dembele
Welcome to the pulsing heart of Africa
See also www.djembepaja.fi (English section)
