Our performances for schools are appropriate to the age of the students, and include:

1. Background knowledge of the African continent
2. Traditional stories with positive social messages as told to us by our elders
3. Introduction/explanation of musical instruments and songs
4. Involvement of children, parents, and teachers as part of performance by encouraging them to sing and clap along
5. Description on of “growing up in the village”
6. The African family structure and loyalty to its positive cultural norms
7. Q & A session (optional)

All performances are tailored to satisfy the needs and wants of our clients.

Program Overview

Nigerian master musician Babá Ken and the Nigerian Brothers are among the few top Nigerian musicians with deep roots in traditional African folk music and village life.

Each performance is designed to educate audiences of all ages about Africa, its people, its culture and its role in the existence of the human family. This is accompanied by careful inclusion of background music over spoken words, and singing over a gentle, irresistible dance beat that engages the body.

In most cases, by the middle of set #1, audiences are spiritually engaged and mentally transported into a village life experience, where the value of keeping oneself happy while taking care of others is reinforced through folk music and stories as told by our elders to us under the moonlight.

African music performance is most authentic and best enjoyed with audience involvement, making everyone part of the show. By the middle of the engagement, audiences are warmed up and ready to participate happily. People are up and dancing together.

We also offer private or group lessons in the following areas:

1. Private lessons and school classes are also offered and may include:
2. Understanding and sharing positive African cultural traditions
3. Recognizing and appreciating various African musical styles (with recordings and videos)
4. Introduction of African percussion instruments/drums
5. Body rhythm and counting method in 4/4, 6/8 and 12/8 meters
6. Memorization techniques
7. Playing the clavé, shekere, and African bells
8. Holding down a groove a second and third drum
9. Learning folk songs and stories
10. Singing while playing an instrument
11. Drum call and response technique
12. Organizing a percussion and drum ensemble
13. African polyrhythmic patterns: how to find the elusive downbeat with our body metronome
14. Listen and learn to play with others in harmony
15. Improvisation skills and techniques

Babá Ken has led programs and classes at many institutions, including:
UCLA Ethnomusicology Department
UC Berkeley Young Musicians Program
Stern Grove Festival Association School Outreach Program
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center Children’s Program, Berkeley,
Dance for Power Program Assemblies, Oakland and Sacramento
Berkeley Public School District
Grand Lake Montessori School, Oakland
Piedmont Elementary School, Oakland
Albany High School
American Chinese School, San Francisco
Alameda Girl Scouts Camp
Bishop, California Public School District
Sedona, Arizona Public School District