Abdoulaye Sylla can tailor instructional and performance offerings to meet the needs of your organization or classroom. Abdoulaye works alone, as a solo artist, as well as with members of his traditional Guinean ensemble, Fotoba. Abdoulaye and Fotoba have worked with libraries, museums, community festivals, schools, theaters, and with individuals for private celebrations such as weddings and birthday parties.Students participating in Abdoulaye’s classes develop self-confidence, mastery, discipline, motor skills, listening skills, and learn how to be part of a team while developing an appreciation of the richness of West African culture. The following programs can be tailored to meet the age-appropriate learning needs of any group, from age 3 to 83. Prices vary based on program length, number of artists, scope of work, and geography.
Participatory Presentations: Includes performance sampler, instrument explanations, including the “African Telephone”; opportunities for hands-on music and dance participation by students, explanation of aspects of Guinean culture, Susu language demonstration. Longer programs also include teaching a song or a question and answer session with the artists. Cultural Exchange Tours to Guinea: Study traditional dance and/or drumming in the homeland of Guinea, West Africa. Individual and group stays can be arranged with personalized instruction from professional traditional artists.
Performance: High-energy presentation by Abdoulaye and Fotoba of authentic Guinean dance and music, highlighting the traditions of several different ethnic groups.
Dance Class: Includes warm-up period and practicing of steps to an authentic Guinean dance, live drumming accompaniment and cultural explanation of the dance. Accompanying songs are taught, time permitting. Drum Class: Participants learn multiple accompaniments to a Guinean polyrhythm and play together. Cultural information about the rhythm is also imparted. Accompanying songs are taught, time permitting.
Singing Class: Simple songs are taught in the languages of the ethnic groups who live in Guinea.
Residencies: Residencies are individually designed to meet desired learning objectives. Typically students will focus on learning a piece and perform at the end of the residency. Residencies can include from one to three artists.
Choreography: Choreography is set and rehearsed for a group wishing to perform
Recordings: Our CD, “Abdoulaye Sylla and One World: Traditional Rhythms from Guinea, West Africa” is available for purchase. Click here to order
Instruments: We have a selection of dun-duns, songbas, djembes, and krins for sale. Drum repair can also be arranged.