We are African Activities.
Providing exceptional African Artists and Bands for schools, festivals, corporations and events. Offering authentic, entertaining and educational experiences across the UK
Meet The Team
Elevate your events, embrace authenticity, and let African Activities redefine your expectations. Join us in creating memories led by the rhythmic beats of African drummers, captivating moves of African dancers, and melodic tunes of African bands.
Kwame Bakoji-Hume
Founder of African Activities, SEND workshop specialist
Kwame, born into the rich herbalist drumming traditions of Buipe, carries a cultural heritage that informs his artistry.
following a scholarship at the renowned Ghanatta College of Arts, he became the artist in residence at the Kumasi Centre for National Culture. His blend of traditional knowledge and artistic expertise makes him a visionary in African arts.
Kulcha Lee
Visual Artist and Nyabingy Drummer for schools
Awarded the National Community Champions excellence award, voted Gloucester’s most active community leader and commended by Jamaican High Commissioner as an ambassador of Jamaican Culture.
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.
Annette Zakaria Wincott
Percussion specialist, performer, guitarist and poetance
Playing drums from 10 Annette has been performing and running events for 12 years. An expert in unlocking the creative potential of others.
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Cheikh Diop
Djembe Master Drummer, Dancer, African drummer for schools
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.
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.
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.
Pape Thiam
Dance and Dun Dun specialist, Primary workshop expert as seen on CBeebies
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.
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.
Janet Youngs
Event Planning
Janet is always happy to chat things through on the phone or via email and will work tirelessly to ensure your event is successful.
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.
Lotte Bakoji-Hume
Marketing
Lotte would be delighted to hear about your requirements to ensure the best fit for you.
Diana Ross
Finance and Funding
Diana helps keep our finaces in order. Keeping us on track to deliver our work.
It Could Be You!
Admin Assistant (funding)
We are currently recruiting for this exciting new role through the kick start program.
It Could Be You!
Event Coordinator/Trainee Artist
We are currently recruiting for this exciting new role through the kick start program.
Ignite Events with Authentic African Atistry
Welcome to African Activities, the premier choice for African drummers, bands, and artists in the UK. Since 2005, we’ve been renowned for bringing high-quality, engaging, and authentic African artistry to events across the UK, from team-building sessions to educational programs and unforgettable live performances.
Our diverse team includes talented African drummers, dancers, and bands, each dedicated to sharing the richness of African culture through captivating performances. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, school program, or community celebration, our African artists are ready to make it truly memorable.
African Drummers in the UK
Experience the power of traditional African drumming with our skilled drummers, who specialize in interactive team-building and high-energy performances. With rhythms that bring people together, our African drummers create an immersive experience, engaging audiences with the beats and stories behind each drum.
African Bands in the UK
Let the vibrant melodies of our African bands elevate your event. From soulful harmonies to energetic performances, our African bands bring a unique and lively atmosphere that’s perfect for festivals, corporate events, and private functions. Each performance combines traditional and contemporary African sounds, crafted to entertain and inspire.
African Artists in the UK
Our African artists, including skilled dancers, musicians, and visual artists, bring a wide array of talents to create an authentic and inspiring cultural experience. With every performance, they connect audiences to the heart of African traditions, providing workshops, performances, and interactive sessions that highlight the rich diversity of African culture.
Your Vision, Our Expertise
From the initial planning stages to the final performance, we prioritize transparency, collaboration, and quality. Our team will work closely with you to ensure every detail aligns with your vision. With a clear timetable and adaptable approach, we ensure a seamless, memorable event. After the experience, you’ll take home lasting memories and materials to continue the learning.
Elevate Your Event with Authentic African Culture
Embrace the power, passion, and authenticity of African Activities. Join us in creating unforgettable experiences led by the rhythmic beats of African drummers, the dynamic moves of African dancers, and the melodic sounds of African bands. Let us redefine your expectations of live performance in the UK and bring your event to life with African artistry.
Let us help you
We have options you may not have thought of.
Long story short
Welcome to African Activities, where African artistry transforms events into unforgettable experiences. Since 2005, we’ve worked across the UK, providing African drummers, dancers, and bands to schools, festivals, corporations, and events. We’re here to showcase the rich, creative, and vibrant expressions of Africa, celebrating its diversity and dismantling outdated stereotypes.
Our story begins with our founder, Kwame Bakoji-Hume, who was inspired to change the way African culture is represented in the UK. African Activities was born out of his refusal to accept the limited portrayals of Africa seen in Western media. Instead, our mission is to restore the balance—telling our own stories and showing the world the richness of African heritage.
At African Activities, we take pride in our team of highly skilled artists and practitioners from Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, and beyond. These gifted professionals, who are CRB/DBS-checked and insured, bring much more than just talent; they bring their cultural heritage. Our team includes Griots, master drummers, dancers, storytellers, and artists whose talents range from drum performances to storytelling, dance, and traditional crafts. Whether it’s the pulsing beats of our African drummers, the entrancing moves of our dancers, or the harmonious melodies of our African bands, each performance is authentic, dynamic, and deeply engaging.
Join us to elevate your next event. Our services are more than entertainment; they’re educational, insightful, and uniquely adaptable to fit your needs. Let’s create memories and build connections that last.
All workshops aim to introduce positive views of Africa and challenge stereotypes. Activities are unifying, adapting to the differing abilities of those within the group.
We are deeply proud of the service we provide
“The whole evening was a huge success, we love the stories as well as the beats.
Such a great way to experience team work, communication and listening skills whilst also being hugely enjoyable.
Everyone loved it."
"The children were inspired by his knowledge and energy. The activities were engaging and the children enjoyed each one with the diversity and fun that they offered, they did not stop smiling!
"Keep it up – as a teacher I have never gone home feeling so inspired and thankful."