About Us
We are African Activities offering authentic experiences across the UK
Our Team
Since 2005 African Activities has been quietly building a strong reputation for high quality team building, education and events. From birthday parties to conferences we are able to adapt to meet your needs. Meet the team that makes it happen…
Kwame Bakoji-Hume
Founder of African Activities
Kwame was born into the drumming and herbalist tradition in Buipe, Ghana.
Sponsored to advance his education at the Ghanatta college of arts in Accra, Kwame went on to become the artist in residence at the Centre for National Culture in Ghana.
Pape Thiam
Dance and Dun Dun specialist
As seen on CBeebies, Pape Thiam is an exceptional DunDun player, multi instrumentalist and talented dancer.
Originally from Senegal, Pape is now based in the UK. Pape works with numerous bands and often travels through Europe and the Middle East.
Oumar Camera
Dance and Djembe specialist
Born into a drumming and dancing tradition in Guinea, Oumar quickly rose to be the lead soloist for Ballet Nafaya and went on to dance for several national ballet groups, winning prizes including best actor/dancer in the Festival d’Alliances. He is a skilled drummer and tours extensively.
Kulcha Lee
Visual Artist and Nyabingy Drummer
A gifted artist and orator experienced in delivering race relations and diversity sessions for the police and corporates.
Cheikh Diop
Djembe Master Drummer and Dancer
Cheikh Diop has performed at music concerts in the UK and Europe: Chelsea Festival, Glastonbury Festival, Disneyland Paris, Natural History Museum and BBC Headroom Project.
Cheikh Diop has facilitated many national and international team-building shows in the corporate field for companies such as NHS, BBC, IBM.
Karim Mbaye
Griot and Sabar Master Drummer
Karim is the UK’s leading Sabar drum player from Senegal, he was born into a Griot family. The Gewel or Griot train as a musicians, singers, storytellers and historians.
Karim has toured the world playing with artists Alioune Mbaye Nder, Salif Keita, Ismael Lo and Baaba Maal and played alongside the late great legend Ray Charles in Paris.
Emmanuel ‘The Magnificent’ Okine
Drummer, Dancer, Acrobat, Circus Skills, musician, performer
Emmanuel is from Ghana where he has honed his musical and acrobatic crafts from the age of five.
He now combines traditional African music and acrobatics with skills learnt elsewhere have trained with a Chinese State Circus master. Fire eating, juggling and extraordinary feats of balance are to be expected, all to the sounds of music from Africa and beyond.
Oumar Sagna
Master drum and Dance Teacher
Originally from Senegal where he worked as an artiste for many years in several Dakar based companies. A skilled dancer and percussionist, he teaches with an enthusiasm that is infectious.
Since coming to live in the UK in 2005, Oumar Alex has passed on his love of West African music and dance to people from many different cultures. He is a skilled and passionate teacher.
Jali Fily Cissokho
Kora
Senegalese master musician Jali Fily Cissokho is griot and an outstanding Kora player. The Kora is described as a 21 string African harp/lute.
As Griot he comes from a family of musicians whose skills and traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. Yet, as a citizen of the 21st Century, he is also attuned to the rhythms of the present and future, creating a unique natural musical blend that spans centuries and continents.
Palaye Seck
Dancer
Hailing from Senegal, Palaye Seck brings you a show seen rarely outside of it’s homeland. The ‘Simb’ Lion Dance tells the story of Senegalese lion legend through a spectacular show of drum, dance and acrobatics.
Palaye is experienced with leading large audiences in dance participation having worked with Reed Recruitment and at Womad festival.
Kwajo Bakoji-Hume
The next generation
Kwajo supports band performances and workshops on bell, shaker and the base drum known as the Dun Dun.
Vieux Bakayoko
Drummer
Vieux is a djembefola and is an accomplished player and teacher.
He has provided numerous performances and workshops. His clients include Womad festival, BBC Radio, Korea International Festival of Art, Warwick Arts Centre, Rhythms of the World Festival, Acoustic Festival of Britain, Stratford Fringe Festival and many many more.
Diana Ross
Finance and Funding
Diana helps keep us on track to deliver our work.
If you have an event or project that you would like us to help you explore funding for please do get in touch.
Janet Youngs
Logistics
Janet has a lifetime of administration and event management experience. She has an exceptional eye for detail. Once your booking is confirmed her team will ensure you are fully prepared for your event with timetables and event plans.
Janet is always happy to chat things through on the phone or via email and will work tirelessly to ensure your event is successful.
Lotte Bakoji-Hume
Marketing
Lotte first visited Kenya in 1992, and has been living and working between Ghana and England since 1995. With an academic back ground in African Studies Lotte is well placed to outline the art-forms available.
Lotte would be delighted to hear about your requirements to ensure the best fit for you.
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Long story short
African Activities has been working on UK events since 2005. Over this time our client base has expanded and we now work with an experienced team of practitioners across the UK and into Europe.
We are driven to bring authentic artistic expressions of Africa to the UK and further afield. Here at African Activities we pride ourselves on our highly skilled practitioners. We provide gifted, reliable and experienced practitioners; CRB/DBS checked and insured.
We are Ghanaian, Guinean and Senegalese practitioners providing West African drumming services across the UK. We love what we do and are about much more than ‘just drumming’ we also offer a variety of arts and craft workshops, singing, dance, storytelling, art and more!
Our back office staff are also passionate about what we do and will be determined to ensure your event schedule means you get the absolute best out of your booking.
“Thank you the drumming was a big success” Ericsson Services Ltd.
Why not give us a call to discuss your event?