Kunda African Culture Music & Dance offer vibrant and diverse school show performances packed with color and energy. A mesmerizing presentation of traditional music, dance, and artistic culture from various regions of Africa, with highlights on the Guinean culture of West Africa, Kunda transports their audience straight to Africa through the presentation, demonstration, and use of traditional dances and instruments, (such as the gongoma, ngoni, kora, bolon, djembe, doundoun, castenets, marimba, mbira – just to name a few of many), several of which are hand-made by Koca & Kunda themselves. Both audio & visual, Kunda's contagiously rhythmic and joyous performances are entertaining and interactive, often involving their audience through call & response singing & clapping, as well as dancing, learning language, and even trying out instruments! An educational and interdisciplinary interactive performance which besides presenting music and dance, 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 multicultural group consisting of both Africans born and raised in various regions and of various tribes of Africa, as well as Caucasians born and raised here in Canada, the presentation is also a display of Canada’s ethnic diversity and multiculturalism, encouraging 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…. Kunda's shows are appropriate for, and can be accomodated to, all ages groups (from kinder through high-school, plus adult audiences), and for any number of people, or size of audience.
School shows are available in both French and English, or a combination of the two! Complete study guides available, including biographical, geographical, and cultural information, as well as pre- &/or post-performance classroom activities, etc. To view a demo video of our shows geared towards children & family audiences, click here Some feedback with regards to school shows passed :
“In every performance [Koca] has the audience clapping, singing and dancing to his djembe - he gets not only the students involved, but the teachers as well! Always in costume, always a unique bringer of the music and history of his people, Koca is the "whole package"." - Monica Hofer
"...their performances far exceeded our expectations. They were dynamic, educational, and engaging..." - Elizabeth Rainer (Vice Principal, Queen Elizabeth Annex School)
"The high-energy music, interactive show and great stage presence create a memorable experience for school groups and families." - Marnie Perrin (Artistic Director, Surrey Children’s Festival)
CULTURAL WORKSHOPS Kunda also offers fun in-school student-participatory African cultural workshops. In these workshops students will experiment with and learn to play a variety of traditional African percussion instruments and dance movements, while learning about their historical and cultural context. Through call-and-response songs and repeat-after-me exercises, students will learn to sing songs, how to count, and to speak some vocabulary in Kocassale's native African tongues of Sousou and Mandingo. Kunda will also bring and introduce different tools and cultural items, such as grass brooms, gourds, baskets, etc, used regularly in West African households, teaching students about West African culture and daily life. These well-rounded workshops cover a variety of subjects and topics, including geography, demography, social studies, culture, history, music, and physical education, and work well with the curriculum. Children and youth alike (not to mention adults), love these fun workshops, which give them the opportunity to learn something exciting and new. Rhythm is found within all of us - it is in our heartbeat and our everyday activities - and many people find percussion to be natural and intuitive; this is a great way for people to find their own inner music and to grow closer to themselves, as well as others - music is the universal language, it has no boundaries. Workshops available, appropriate, and accomodated to, all age groups, and all group sizes. Available in both French and English, or a combination of the two! Workshops may be single-time half- or full-day visits, or ongoing and progressive series, through either artist residencies (see below) or scheduled visits.
ARTIST RESIDENCIES Kunda also offers artist in residency programs, being similar to the workshops, however different in that with the residencies Kunda will spend several days (generally one schools week) with the students, facilitating an ongoing and progressive series of workshops, creating a more thorough and lasting learning experience for the students, and also giving the students themselves an opportunity to perform and present what they have learned at the end of Kunda's residency. During a residency Kunda will introduce students to severals aspect of West African culture and daily life, teach them to sing, speak, and count in Koca's native African tongues, as well as touch on topics such as geography, demography, history, rhythm and movement. However, the primary focus of the workshops will be music and dance. Through a progressive series of funworkshops students will have the opportunity to experiment with and learn to play a variety of traditional West African instruments, as well as learn ancient songs, and typical dance movements, while also learning about their historical and cultural context. Over the course of the residency, Kunda will teach each group a different rhythm, song, and/or dance, with a unique arrangement and/or choreograph. Together with Kunda, students will learn, prepare, and practice a performance which they will have the chance to demonstrate their fellow school mates, friends, teachers, and/or parents, through a student concert at the end of the residency, showcasing what they have learned. Residencies are available in both French and English, or a combination of the two, and can be accommodated to all age groups, from kinder through high-school. Kunda also provides complete multi-page study guides with plenty of additional biographical, cultural, and geographical information, to further enhance students learning experience.
Some feedback from a past residencies :
“Having worked with music students at both the elementary and high school, I understand the importance of an engaging performance. Sasha and Koca delivered such a performance with ease. The students (and parents, and staff,and etc..) loved the passion and energy exuded by these artists. " - Jennifer MacInnes (Band Director, Madeira Park Elementary & Pender Harbour Secondary Schools)
"Thanks so much for coming up and giving workshops to our students. Both students and teachers LOVED it! The high energy, the opportunity to play drums and other musical instruments, the dancing and singing were all very much a part of a great day. I personally love how you were able to give workshops to every class in the school!" - Rick Miller, Principal, Mountview Elementary
"Thank you, Sasha and Koca! We really enjoyed having you at PJ and I was so impressed with what the students learned in such a short time! The Grade 6/7s played so well and the little Kindies were 100% focused! Don't see that every day! Actually, one Kindergarten teacher told me after school yesterday that it was the best artist in residence program that she has experienced in her years at PJ. Pretty good feedback!" - Chantal Trudeau, Principal, École Pauline Johnson
BRING KUNDA TO YOUR SCHOOL! Interested in bringing Kunda African Culture Music & Dance to your school to perform a school show, facilitate a workshop, or a for a artist residency? Please do not hesitate to contact us ( [email protected]) to propose your booking, check availability, for details regarding pricing & fees, or for any other further information! Bring culture to the classroom! Make education fun & exciting!