Teachers

Drumming: Pape Cissé. Pape Cissé is Senegalese musician. Pape Cissé has learned to play West-African instruments with the local experts in Senegal. Pape Cissé is a member of the well-known Senegalese Mama Africa (founded in 1990). He has performed in various clubs and parties. He has been a musician in Blaise Senghor Culture Centre playing djembé, sabar, tama and doundoun. Mama Africa organizes yearly a workshop in Senegal and performs in different countries. Pape Cissé teaches playing djembé, sabar, tama and doundoun and accompanies in dancing classes.

Pape Cissé tells

Music played with West-African instruments (djembé, sabar, tama, doundounm balafon, kora) gives joy and energy to everybody. Combining dancing, playing and singing is essential part of the African musical traditions. Rhytms release you from stress and with music and dance you can find joy. This is what I want to show to everybody. Joy is an important part of life. If you can make one people happy, he/she will continue delivering happiness and there will be more happy people in the world. I appreciate all musicians and dancers, because with music and dance one can express oneself non-verbally despite of language barriers. Playing with children is important because children are the future.



Dancing: Marianne Leppä. Marianne Leppä has danced African dances since 1993 with both Finnish and African teachers. She has taken part in dance and djembé courses in Senegal in 2003 and 2004. Marianne Leppä teaches African dances and is a dancer in Mami Wata and Mama Africa.