A Celebration of African music - Saturday Sept. 18

Press release August 7 2004

A Celebration of African music

Kinka Drum ensemble of Aotearoa performing recreational drumming of Ghana
Album Release Party with Afrokiwi band Gahu and DJ Joe
Brix cafe & Bar 280 K'Road
Saturday September 18 9.30pm til late $10

Dougal Records announce the release an album of recreational drumming from Ghana, West Africa played by the Kinka Drum ensemble of Aotearoa: of interest to hardcore 'drumheads', dancers and ethnomusicologists.

The music of Kinka is an exciting and energetic event, bestowing performers and audience with strong feelings of well - being. Lead drummer Yaw (YB) Boateng directs the changing rhythms while improvising, singing and dancing.

Yaw Boateng grew up in the Volta region of Southern Ghana and the Ashanti capital of Kumasi. He came to New Zealand in 2003 to study at Unitec in Auckland. He met Bud Hooper there and discovered that Bud had been to Ghana to study drumming only 50 miles from his home village.

Bud is the director of the Gahu Drum and Dance Society of Aotearoa formed in 1993 under the guidance of master drummer and dancer Godwin Agbeli from the village of Kopeyia in southern Ghana. The group focuses on the study and performance of traditional polyrhythmic ensemble drumming, dancing and singing of West Africa.

The performance group consists of up to a seven piece drum ensemble which can be accompanied by a dance troupe. Each drum in the ensemble holds a 'support' or 'answer' rhythm which combines with the other drum motifs producing an exciting music of rhythmic sophistication. The lead drum, while playing within an improvisatory context, directs the changing rhythms and movements for the drummers and dancers.

Good quality photos for print available on request - electronic or hardcopy.

For more information www.gahu.co.nz

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