Memorial Day weekend was beautiful and truly “memorial” with Carnaval 2010 in San Francisco and also the well attended and amazing West African, Afro Cuban, Ewe (Ghana) and Brasilian (Brazilian) drum and dance party in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California!
Master dummers: Yagbe Onilu and CK Ladzepko
drummers acknowledge each other at West African drum and dance in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
CK Ladzepko
CK Ladzepko drumming in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Yagbe Onilu and CK Ladzepko
CK Ladzepko drumming in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Kinkini Fola: Big Surfer Ray Titus
Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
CK Ladzepko\'s students perform in park
CK Ladzepko drum group in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Yagbe Onilu
in Mosswood Park, Oakland , Californiaon Memorial Day 2010
singing,dancing and playing in the park
in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Prince Johny Harstrup
Prince Johny Harstrup in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Yagbe Onilu performs on Shekere
Yagbe Onilu performs on Shekere at drum and dance party and festival in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Ray, dancer Cevie Tourre and Nick Ostis
at drum and dance party and festival in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Ama
in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Wade Peterson, Ray and Elan Vitale
in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
drum lesson
at drum and dance party and festival in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
beautiful dancer
at drum and dance party and festival in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
Maracatu player
at drum and dance party and festival in Mosswood Park, Oakland , California on Memorial Day 2010
dancer in the park
at drum and dance party and festival in Mosswood Park, Oakland , Califonria on Memorial Day 2010
bird in the sky
at drum and dance party and festival in Mosswood Park, Oakland , Califonria on Memorial Day 2010
Here is the Malinke rhythm called Senefoli a dance done at harvest time from Guinea, West Africa as taught by Michael Pluznick. “Sene” means farming and “foli” means rhythm. Djembe solo by Kenji from Japan. Taught at Rumpuree drum and dance school in Bangkok, Thailand.
This is a performance of our group with master drummer Bolokada Conde, “les Percussions Melenke at the Mill Valley Theater. We play 3 different Konkoba drum pieces tied together and and West African dancers Nabe Bangoura and others from Ballet Merveilles come out as well. From left to right:Rafael, Sean Areneda, Michael Pluznick, Mohamed Kouyate, front: Bolokada Conde. Male dancer: Nabe Bangoura
This video was shot at a dununba djembe drum and community dance party in Conakry Guinea my friend and teacher, the late great Komoko Sano took me to on my musical and percussion study tour to Guinea. Each dancer at a party takes a turn to show off their “stuff” or dance moves. If someone really likes your moves, they run out and give you money, which is the custom. Also, at the end of your dance solo others may run out to dance with you in the finale or eshaufman which means “to speed up”.
About Michael
Michael Pluznick is a studio musician and recording arts specialist. Read more about Michael.