African
Drum and Dance Workshop
with Kissima
Diabat�
 Saturday,
October 2, 2010
Drum Workshop 12:30 - 2pm
Dance Workshop 2 - 3:30pm
Community Education Center
3500 Lancaster Ave
Philadelphia, PA
$15 per workshop
Kissima Diabate was exposed to the djembe from birth. He was
born into a well-known griot family in Dakar, Senegal, which
originally migrated, from Mali. He followed his singing mother and
father, accompanying the great master drummers. At an early age,
during the period that he was enrolled in school, Kissima played in
different ensembles. He was a member of the "Ballet Deco Afrique".
At the age of 12, he started his professional career as a djembe
soloist in the famous "Ballet d'Afrique Noir". Four years later,
Kissima Diabate joined the "Ballet National Du Senegal" as a solo
drummer and dancer on an eight-year tour. He is a skilled
percussionist, performing at a multitude of well-known venues. His
expertise for teaching djembe and dance classes are renown. Kissima
Diabate has organized and directed a number of performing groups
such as "Keur Senegal", "Nunou Diapo", "Jam Ak Jam", and "Groupe
Kiss". Among his accomplishments, Kissima has produced numerous
recordings including five CD's. With "Jam Ak Jam", a percussionist
group that includes the kora (a West African harp-like instrument)
as well as with various artists Kissima plays many different
instruments including the djembe, dioun dioun (base drums), sabar,
tama (talking drum), seouraba, bougarabou and balafon. Kissima also
sings, composes and arranges rhythms. In addition, Kissima
experiments with his music and collaborates with musicians of other
musical styles and backgrounds. Kissima performs and teaches
throughout Africa, Europe and the United States. With his explosive
energy and musical genius, Kissima inspires and moves everyone in
which he and his music comes in contact with wherever he travels in
the world.
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