Jamo Jamo Arts 

west african drum, dance & song

journey into rhythm...

Join us for this unique adventure into the music, dance and cultural traditions of West Africa.


Travel with inspirational artist Fodé Mané to his home village of Thionck Essyl -  a beautiful tranquil village by the river. Experience the spirit, vibrancy and hospitality that is Senegal.


Senegal is the perfect place to travel to in Africa, as it is a safe and politically stable country with incredibly rich and diverse cultural traditions. Music and dance are an important part of everyday life, and are used to create community, express emotion and re-inforce cultural identity.


‘Kadjamor’ means ‘to understand’ in the Djola language. This tour offers exactly that - the opportunity to see, hear, feel, experience, participate and understand.


Lovely people, fantastic food, great weather, and of course, amazing music and dance, are some of the things to expect from this tour. This will be your once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the real West Africa in a safe and comfortable way. A truly life changing experience.


About Us

Fodé Mané will be your host and guide for this amazing journey. He is a dynamic and inspirational teacher and performer. Prior to migrating to Australia he was a lead dancer, drummer and choreographer with the award winning traditional performing arts troupe Bakalama of Thionck Essyl, based in Dakar.


Company Bakalama is made up of some of Senegal’s most talented artists, and regularly performs at festivals and events throughout Europe. Fodé and the artists of Bakalama will share with you their knowledge, experience, traditions and culture in a fun and engaging way. Fodé’s brother, Landing Mané, also an extremely talented artist, will be joining us with his students from the UK. The Mané family will welcome you warmly into their home and village.

Tour Dates

29 March to 9 April 2010 - Thionck Essyl

12 April to 16 April 2010 - Toubab Dialaw


Location

The workshop will take place in two locations allowing participants the opportunity to join the tour for 1, 2 or 3 weeks at one or both locations.


Thionck Essyl is a large village situated on the Casamance River. The Casamance region is in the southern part of Senegal, and is known for its lush scenery and relaxed pace.


Toubab Dialaw is a beautiful coastal fishing village only an hour from Dakar.


The Workshop

Five, ten or fifteen days of tuition in djembe drumming and various styles of traditional dance will be provided. Classes will be 2-3 hours duration each, and will cater for all levels of experience. Drums will be available for hire and sale.


Additional private tuition will be available upon request in instrument of your choice (sabar, doun douns, tama, bougarabou, sawerouba, kora, balafon or flute).


In addition to the classes, you will have the opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyle of Senegal and to participate in cultural dances, festivals and ceremonies. There will be weekend excursions to visit various local attractions as well as plenty of free time to swim, relax and explore.


Accommodation and Food

You will be hosted by Djola families, who are warm and welcoming people. The accommodation is clean and simple. Three traditional meals a day will be prepared by the family using locally grown fresh ingredients. Expect lots of fresh fruit, fish, meat, vegetables, rice, cous cous and tasty sauces. Vegetarians can be catered for.


For more information please feel free to contact us by email or call us.