Drumming company behind Black Panther movie to offer bursaries to underrepresented groups

A LEADING drumming company that supplied drums to Marvel’s Black Panther movies is offering bursaries to people from underrepresented communities to experience a weekend of African entertainment.

Wooden Roots, is giving free places to people seeking asylum, refugees, people on lower incomes, and school students over eight years old, who will experience drum and dance workshops at Snape Maltings, on the Suffolk Coast, in early August. 

By offering bursaries, the company aims to give people the chance to enjoy first-rate West African music teaching – at all levels – at a prestigious cultural venue.

The Wooden Roots Experience takes place from Saturday 3rd and 4th August at Snape Maltings, with a special VIP evening event on Friday 2nd at their base in Bentwaters Parks.

West African culture

The West African drumming company was founded by Marcus Brown in the early 2000s, when he discovered his interest in djembe playing whilst living in Los Angeles.

He said: “The Wooden Roots Experience promises to be an exciting, dynamic event. We believe in inclusion, so we welcome absolute beginners as well as highly skilled drummers from any background to join us. We’re incredibly proud to have globally renowned West African artists leading workshops.

“We are bringing excellence to Suffolk, which is essential in giving people outside of large cities a real experience of West African culture.”

The company has also supplied bespoke djembes to Marvel Studios’ Black Panther movies and have booked world-leading West African artists to run the Experience workshops. 

Brown is also a djembe craftsman and added: “Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, we are able to include people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to benefit from a weekend of excellence in West African drumming and dance in a beautiful setting. I know that everyone will leave the weekend feeling inspired, uplifted and energised.”

Dance teacher, Aida Diop, comments: “This year’s Experience includes sessions to help people connect and make sense of how West African drums and dance work together. The dancing will bring some wonderful vibes to an already wonderful weekend. It’s also an opportunity to gain a more authentic understanding of a dynamic artform.”

The places also include free tickets to a special performance by pioneering female kora player, Sona Jobarteh, in the prestigious Concert Hall.

Drum teacher and lead artist, Babara Bangoura Fakoly, added: “I’m very excited about teaching throughout the weekend, and sharing the authentic nature of West African drums and drumming with people.

“It’s wonderful that Wooden Roots is offering people an exceptional quality experience in a beautiful setting. It’s going to be a great weekend! We truly encourage people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and ability to join us for this event.”

Entertainment

Tickets start at around £60 for a child. Different packages are available: Gold, Silver and Bronze for three days, two days or one day respectively.

For Gold ticket holders only, the weekend starts on the Friday evening with the VIP ‘Smoke N’ Drums’ event, which includes food, drumming and a meet and greet with the Experience workshop teachers.

Gold and Silver tickets include workshops on Saturday and Sunday at Snape Maltings, and a Dununba Celebration on Saturday evening, which is a vibrant cultural event from countries including Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso.

It will include drumming, dancing and storytelling.

People can add to the Bronze package by buying access to individual activities.

Fraser Wilson, Head of Performance and Public Engagement at Britten Pears Arts, says: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Wooden Roots Experience again which is a big, bold happening with exceptional artistic talent.

“We love supporting the event as it echoes our own reputation as an internationally recognised cultural organisation. Naturally, we encourage people to snap up tickets and be part of what is becoming an iconic weekend in rural Suffolk.”

The free places and bursaries are limited and people interested in applying for a place should email Wooden Roots via: [email protected]

For more information and to buy tickets, visit: https://www.woodenroots.com/wooden-roots-experience-august-2024.