BéréSanké Percussion, Kocassalé Dioubaté, Hand-made drums, Workshops, Performances

School Shows

Kocassale Dioubate’s ‘Kunda African Culture, Music, & Dance’ school performance focuses largely on the presentation of the traditional music, dance, and artistic culture of his native Mandingo tribe, of Guinea, West Africa, and through the presentation, demonstration, and use of traditional dances and instruments such as the gongoma, ngoni, kora, bolon, djembe, doundoun, and castenets – just to name a few, and many of which are hand-made by Koca himself – Koca and his group transport audiences straight to Africa.   

However, this an interdisciplinary and interactive performance which also gives insight into many different aspects of African culture in general, and touches on such topics as language, geography, demography, tradition, movement, rhythm, unity, and cultural interaction.    

Presented by a group consisting of both Africans born and raised in Guinea, and European descendants born and raised here in Canada, the presentation is also a display of Canada’s ethnic diversity and encourages people of all cultural backgrounds to come together to share ideas, beliefs and traditions, to eliminate boundaries, interact, and join together in peace, unity, and harmony, as one world, one love, and one people….

Some feedback with regards to school shows passed :

"Would definitely have this performer back.  Very professional and enjoyable performance!"

"The performer's love of music was contagious as was his huge smile!"

"Very entertaining!  All students from kindergarten to grade 6 thought it was fantastic!"

"Colorful clothing and music that makes you want to get up and dance!"

"Students loved the fact that they had the opportunity to learn words from another language by singing along."

"All of us - students and staff - thoroughly enjoyed your performance.  It was dynamic and vibrant - it had to be, because you kept 200+ middle school students entranced for 45 minutes!  Both the music and the dance were fabulous.  You gave us an intriguing 'taste' of your culture through both of these art forms."

Workshops

In these fun, interactive rhythm, dance, and song workshops, participants learn some basic African dance movements, as well as how to create and maintain some simple rhythms using their own bodies as an instrument, through hand-clapping, finger-snapping, foot-stomping, and vocal creativity, as well as call and response song workshops in Koca’s native tongues (Mandingo & Sousou).   

Community Shows

Kocassale Dioubate and Kunda African Culture, Music, & Dance put on a diverse and spectacular show.   Both auditory and visual, this presentation of music and dance stimulates all senses.  

The group uses many traditional instruments of Kocassale’s African heritage and tradition, as well as other instruments (such as marimba), creating true world music, with fresh innovation as well as deeply rooted tradition.   

The performance takes its’ audience on a musical journey to distant lands and times with everything from soft, harmonic melodies with soulful vocals, to explosive drumming with high-energy dancing.   

Contagiously rhythmic and joyous!!    

School shows, workshops, and community shows are available to all age groups, and group sizes.