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Out of Africa

Directed by Joe Galeota and Ryan Edwards

A lot comes out of Africa...Music, Joy, Community, Dance, Strength, Legacy, Inspiration and more.
Tonight we celebrate the music and dance of West Africa with guest artists Saeed Abbas and
Balla Kouyate. West Africa has blessed the world with a wealth of culture spread near and far
and affecting us all. Featured in this performance is the “Soso Bala” - the nearly 1000 year-old
traditional mallet instrument with its roots at the beginning of the Malinke Empire. Also featured
are a variety of instruments from Ghana, including the Palm drums, Kalango talking drum and
Atentenden Flute. Joining our special guests are members of the Berklee West African Drum and

Dance Ensemble and a student group led by Ryan Edwards, with dance choreography by Jennifer
Criss.

Sponsored by Office of Cultural Diversity and The Percussion Department

Pieces:

Fume Fume - is the most recent of all Ga recreational musical types. Mustapha Tettey Addy, a mas-
ter drummer from Avenor, in Accra, Ghana created this musical type in the late 1970s. Although

a recreational dance drumming type, almost all the dance movements and instrumental rhythmic
patterns used in Fume Fume performance are derived from traditional Ga religious dances such as
Kple, Akom, Otu, Nana, Tigare, as well as having roots form the Nafana people of Southwestern
Ghana. Fume fume is presently performed at life-cycle events, festivals, political rallies and other
social events.

Balafon Solo - Featuring Balla Kouyate, set free.

Balafon and Flute make Good Friends - Balla Kouyate, Saeed Abbas and Ryan Edwards meeting
on some red dirt road; hot, dusty and thankful for company.

Yankadi / Makuru - Flirtatious social music and dance from the Susu People of West Africa. A
type of social mixer for young people to express themselves and meet the opposite sex...

Flute Duet - Saeed Abbas and Koblavi Victor Dogah.

Lamba - Official jam of the djelis. Djelis are a cast of musicians who tell stories or are history-keep-
ers of West Africa, common amongst the Susu and Malinke ethnic groups. It s the job of a diel to
compose songs that capture the important current events in the community.

Solsonet - A traditional mask dance from the Baga people of West Africa. Over the years, Solsonet
has increased in popularity, and is now considered a “standard” in the repertoire, of French speak-
ing West Africa. Listen closely and feel the translucent pulses of 3, 4, and 6 as they are expressed in
both the drumming and dance.

Kpatsa- is the principal traditional entertainment music and dance of the Dangme of Southeastern
Ghana. It is located in the town of Ada, which sits on the estuary of the River Volta, east of Accra.
The dance itself involves sideways and forward shuffling movements, making use of short, brisk
steps with the body slightly bent. Please stand and join us, move your body and celebrate as we
close out the show!

Berklee College of Music