Simon has been drumming his heart out all his life. Starting with plastic drum-kits and pots n pans as a kid and then graduating to a drum kit, he’s played many styles of music and found his passion in West African rhythms. Annual trips to West Africa since the mid 1990’s have seen him collaborate with some of the regions’ great percussionists. Simon returns to the region every year in search of new music, running a Tour to Africa. His love and knowledge of rhythm translates to his teaching where he focuses on tapping into your creativity, dexterity, honoring tradition and having fun.
Born In Ghana Africa, Yaw has lived, breathed and studied African Drumming and music his whole life. He was a member of the Pan-African Orchestra for over 10 years and has performed all over the world in both traditional and fusion groups collaborating with people such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Francis Fuster, Andy Summers and Oren Marshall along the way. Before moving to New Zealand, Yaw has taught classes in London for almost 20 years, and now we are lucky to have him here, creating this exciting opportunity to study with a master of his craft.
Djulz began studying and performing West African percussion in Melbourne several years ago. She has travelled West Africa extensively, studying with master drummers and musicians in Mali, Ghana and Burkina Faso. Based in Melbourne, Djulz continues to study and perform with some of Melbourne’s most renown artists in the field including Mady Keita, Bouba Gaye, Sayon Souare and Simon Fraser. Her great love of the djembe and of African culture exudes an infectious energy and creates a fun learning environment in her classes.
Alastair is a lifelong disciple of rhythm, with a background in teaching, linguistics, and mathematics.
He is at the forefront of African Drumming’s community classes, performance groups, and school & corporate events.
Alastair believes in the cognitive and emotional benefits of drumming and has a passion for learning West African rhythms and sharing them with others through the connecting power of drumming. He is a facilitator at our Teacher Training program.
He is at the forefront of African Drumming’s community classes, performance groups, and school & corporate events.
Alastair believes in the cognitive and emotional benefits of drumming and has a passion for learning West African rhythms and sharing them with others through the connecting power of drumming. He is a facilitator at our Teacher Training program.
Bouba first laid his hands on a drum in Senegal at the budding age of 14. Inspired by the musical mentors around him he became a member of the infamous Mama Afrika. Under the guidance of ballet professor Joseph-Raphael Bouschanzl, Bouba’s skills and passion grew quickly and soon he was also a member of the renowned Foret Sacre Ballet. In 1997 Bouba ventured to Europe and then onto Japan where he established himself as a leading African percussionists. With an energy and peace of mind that resonates from deep within – Bouba speaks a thousand words with his drum.
After 10 years of playing the piano, Brianna bought her first djembe at the age of 18 – and promptly fell in love with African drumming! This sparked an interest in all things percussive, which in turn led her to participate in African drumming, Brazilian percussion and body percussion workshops; become a facilitator of a drumming intervention/wellbeing program; and complete the L1, L2, & L3 facilitator training with African Drumming. As a primary school teacher, Brianna has been teaching drumming to school students for the past seven years. She is passionate about the use of the drum as a teaching tool, and is currently completing a Masters thesis on drumming and student engagement. Brianna believes that being a member of a drumming community has far reaching-benefits, including: enhancing musicality, building relationships, boosting confidence and improving general well being.
