The Fredonia School of Music announced that guest artist Abou Sylla will give a drum workshop and Balafon concert in Mason Hall Room 1051 on Wednesday, May 20. The workshop starts at 6 and the concert at 8. Participants and listeners are invited to make a $20 donation for each event.
About the performer:
Mr. Sylla, a master Balafonist and djeli, makes his first visit to Western New York, presenting traditional Susu djeli music of Western Africa. He was born in Guinea, West Africa, and has toured the world with the internationally famous African dance troupe, Les Ballets Africains. He was a founding member of the award winning African dance company, Les Merveilles de Guinea. Mr. Sylla has composed for, performed and recorded with many different groups, including Badenya and Tamalalou.
He teaches Balafon workshops and drum classes throughout the U.S. Mr. Sylla is a fellowship recipient from the New York Foundation for the Arts.
About the music:
The balafon (bala, balaphone) is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone. Sound is produced by striking the tuned keys with two padded sticks.
A djeli, or griot, is a West African poet, praise singer, and wandering musician, considered a repository of oral tradition.
