West Africa’s Les Percussions de Guinee, recognized as one of the most extraordinary drumming ensembles in the world, has always been, by custom, male. In fact, women throughout West Africa were ...

The Djun Djun Mamas have been performing throughout Santa Barbara County for the past six years, and they seriously know how to rock the house. Led by Lisa Beck, the troupe — which combines West ...

Is it possible that rhythms pounded out on African drums can have a healing effect on our troubled world? After sitting in on a practice session of Ballet Manden, a West African drum, dance and ...

African drum rhythm filled the room and transported me to a different time and place. I began to feel lighter, happier, and more buoyant. A childlike grin inched its way across my face and, before I ...

Jessie Lehmann, a member of The Know Bodies Band, discovered her passion for traditional West African drumming before she even visited Africa. Through a drum club at her college, Lehmann, who had no ...