Are you an artist living in the National Capital Region?
Join us for our AGM and 2022 Program Information Session on June 8th from 6 to 8 pm at ArtEngine Office at Arts Court (2 Daly Ave, Ottawa, ON K1N 6E2).
Our special guest, Fana Soro, is a hereditary master of the balafon, West Africa’s big wooden xylophone. Fana will perform and facilitate a free West African drumming workshop for all participants.
It would be an opportunity to get together after 2 years of isolation. We will share resources, information and opportunities. We have exciting programs coming up in 2022. Everyone is welcome including immigrant, refugee, Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQI+, disabled, woman and man artists.
We will offer food and beverages. Please register here and indicate if you have any food allergies.
Looking forward to seeing you all!
Artist Spotlight: Fana Soro
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Fana Soro is a hereditary master of the balafon, West Africa’s big wooden xylophone. Fana hails from the Senoufo tribe in northern Cote d’Ivoire and spent 9 years as a member of the prestigious Ballet National de Cote d’Ivoire touring England, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, Martinique and West Africa. In 1990, he moved to Norway to perform throughout the Norwegian educational system and work as Artist in Residence at the International Children’s Museum in Oslo. From there, Fana continued to tour throughout Northern Europe with the celebrated West African group, Super Djembé Kan. In 1997, Fana moved to Vancouver and formed Masabo, a performance group specializing in traditional West African music, dance and story. Fana and his family have made their home in Ottawa since 2010.
During the workshop, Fana Soro introduces participants to traditional rhythms and songs of the djembé, West Africa’s most popular drum. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the drumming connected to the dances and songs of the Senoufo culture.