Advanced West African Drumming with Charles Amewudah

This class will meet at the Waldorf School of Louisville -  3110 Rock Creek Dr, Louisville, KY 40207.

Drumming and dancing are inseparable in Africa. Drumming and dancing are not just entertainment. Ceremonial drumming and dancing tell a story, convey emotion, recount history, celebrate rites of passage, and help to unify the community. 

Drumming and Dancing in African, specifically West African, is generally characterized by the people and the gender of the drummers and dancers. Drumming was originally reserved for men, while women dominated dancing. Some dances are gender-specific, but many others are gender-neutral. In general, men used large body movements, including jumping and leaping. At the same time, women danced with smaller movements, often using shuffle steps, their bodies bent in a crooked position, with their knees bent. African dancing can be seen in circle dance form, sometimes with musicians- drummers- in the middle, or solo dancers, sometimes couples. Ecstatic seizure is an essential element of African ceremonial dancing for both religious and secular. Today in Africa, drumming is open to women, even though the men still dominate drumming. 

Borborbor Drumming 

Learn the fundamental movements of Borborbor Drumming from the Ewe people of Ghana, West African.

This class will teach you the fundamentals of traditional West African drumming, with an emphasis on understanding the history, parts, rhythms, and songs of Borborbor.

Kpegisu Drumming

Kpegisu is a high-energy music genre and is historically associated with military preparation among the Ewes. We will learn the fundamentals of traditional West African drumming, with a focus on understanding the various parts, rhythms, songs, and history of the Kpegisu. 

You will:

• Make a connection with the Ewe history and the Borborbor and Kpegisu drumming traditions.
  
• Sing some lyrics of Borborbor and Kpegisu songs with the melody.
  
• Gain experience in how to execute Borborbor and Kpegisu drumming rhythm.
  
• Know the names of the Ewe drums that are used for Borborbor and Kpegisu drumming.
  
• Recognize the Borborbor rhythm, transitions (breaks), and phrases.
• Recognize the Kpegisu rhythm and beat.
  
• Build stamina and endurance.
  
• Participate in a West African drumming class with confidence.
  

This class is for:

• This class is for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in Ghanaian culture and drumming.
  
• This class is for anyone who wants to learn Ghana and West African drumming.
  
• Borborbor and Kpegisu are easy to learn music but require a little bit of drumming skills, to grab it.
  
• The drumming is suitable for individuals aged 13 and above, of all body types and sizes, and requires a basic understanding of African drumming skills.
• This class is a wonderful way to build stamina, energize, and burn calories while having fun.
• This class will benefit all drummers and drumming enthusiasts.

Prerquisite: a previous Louisville Folk School African drumming class

This is an adult class open to students aged 13 and up.