Sidiki Dembele listing on Broadway Baby

The extraordinary musician (Culture Whisper) Sidiki Dembele comes from a family of West African griots, who preserve and pass on oral traditions. A multi-instrumentalist, he has won especial acclaim for his performances on the djembe: a goblet drum from West Africa with an astonishingly range of pitches. Its name derives from the phrase anke dj, anke b, which translates as everyone gather together in peace in the Bambara language.

Dembele is also a skilful player of the jeli ngoni (a small lute) and the kamele ngoni (a harp-oud), among others, all of which he regards as spiritual instruments. But he finds the djembe to epitomise the spirituality of the playing experience. According to Dembele, the djembe is also capable of teaching communities about tolerance, respect and forgiveness.

In the essence of the djembes purpose to bring people together, and in the griot tradition, Dembele explores West African drumming rituals at The Hub for his International Festival debut.

Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown together with Flure Grossart.

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