Here is some feedback from recent participants…

We know that there are many wonderful and deserving charitable causes out there to support.  We also know that the current economic times make it necessary for all of us to make careful choices.  Almost every sector of our society is facing financial challenges, and Baobab is no exception.  We hope to continue to offer the excellent and unique arts education programming that we are known for.  With the help of our donors, we had an enriching year last year, making a positive difference in many people’s lives.  If you wish to support our efforts through a tax-deductible financial contribution, we would be very grateful.

This season, donors who contribute $50 or more between Feb 1 and March 30 will be entered into a draw to receive a private workshop in dance OR drumming in your home for up to 8 people, taught by Kathy Armstrong.

Baobab is a registered charity with Revenue Canada 86158 7095 RR0001, tax receipts will be issued promptly.

To make a donation:

• Call us in the office (613)725-6994 for credit cards
• Make an online donation through the Canada Helps button on our website

Baobab sincerely thanks you for your generosity during this challenging time for us.

Ian Brown

Chair, Baobab Board of Directors

A few recollections from us at Baobab Community:

Emmanuel and his wife  Stella came to a Baobab Tree drum and dance concert about 8 or 9 years ago. I remember clearly Emmanuel introducing themselves to us, and enthusiastically expressing admiration for our efforts in Ghanaian culture.  From that moment on, Emmanuel and Stella became two of our greatest supporters, coming to all of our events dressed in beautiful Ghanaian dress and spreading the word about our activities.

Soon after, Emmanuel joined our Board of Directors, where he served for three years, from 2005-2008. Board meetings were never dull with Emmanuel around, with a twinkle in his eye and a hearty laugh, which was infectious and made us all giggle! A highlight during that time was the Ghanaian fashion show that Stella and Emmanuel staged at one of our annual fundraisers. Everyone was very excited about showcasing all the beautiful outfits and one of the most attractive models was of course, Stella.

Emmanuel was very generous in giving back to his community but you could tell he was especially proud of his Ghanaian heritage.  Emmanuel helped us in planning for our youth performers visit to Ghana in 2006, even offering up some accommodation if we could possibly make it to his hometown of Hohoe.  The long trek was not possible during the short stay we were in Ghana but I do hope to visit that area on another trip someday. I am sure his relatives are just as open and friendly as he was.

Emmanuel said to me once that he was sorry he did not hear about us sooner, when his children were younger as he would have liked to have them participate in the drumming and dancing. As it turned out, he was able to tell his god-daughter Angelina Gagbenon about us, and she joined our youth performers shortly after that. Angie and her family were strong supporters of our program as well, and Angie was a natural leader in dance and drumming, and came to Ghana with us on our most recent trip, last summer.

Everyone at Baobab Community remembers Emmanuel with fondness (pictured, centre, below with other board members in June 2007).  He will be missed but has left a legacy of joy and connection for us all.

Hayley and I wish you the best for a restful holiday and an amazing 2012. Thanks for all your support this year and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Please note the Baobab Office will be closed as of Dec 21st and will re-open Monday January 9th.

The event was once again amazingly organized by our manager Hayley de Bie with help from the Baobab Board and parents. We are especially thankful to Bridgehead and Camino for their beverage donations, as well as the many local businesses and individuals who supplied the fantastic silent auction items.

Artistically speaking, there was a wonderful set of performances by our new Zoomers drum class, our older ROOTS class and of course the Baobab Youth Performers. As I was unable to be there at the last minute, we were very fortunate to have Rory Magill and Julia Walmsley step in with their wonderful skills to lead the class performances. The Baobab Youth stepped up to the plate and ran their pieces on their own. Kudos to all! Feedback was terrific and it would seem like a good time was had by all. Hayley and some of the youth paid tribute to the three who left at the end of last year, Angie, Lief and Liam. Sad to see them go!

Thanks to Marmie for photos of the public workshop and rest of the afternoon.

This past week, both of our ROOTS classes finished their 8 week session of classes and we opened the doors to friends and family for an informal demonstration of what we have been working on. The program is split into two age levels…7-10 and 11-13. We were lucky to have Maia Allen volunteer with the younger group. A former ROOTS drummer herself, she was a big help in coaching this large class. The older class was a little smaller and more independent. Both classes demonstrated their work on hand and stick drumming, as well as singing and clapping some Ghana children’s game songs. This Fall we have a new colour and design for the ROOTS shirts which they wore for their performances.

During the open house evenings, we also has on display the wonderful art project each class did with Maureen Clarke…this time it was votive candles with Ghanaian adinkra stamps on them. Beautiful!

Always a pleasure to work with these ROOTS kids…the winter session will just be for the older class and then both levels are offered again in the spring. Details are always on the classes page. of this website.

The choirs had been working with Rory Magill as composer in residence all week prior to that, on several of his compositions which were performed in the concert. Rory was thrilled to have such a great connection with the singers throughout the week to really workshop his pieces. They all learned from each other as happens in those situations. Hearing the young men sing songs from “Atamga” in concert, with feet stomping out the cross rhythmic pulses gave goosebumps…this was preceded by our young men in Baobab performing a traditional Atsiagbekor, in a style we learned this past summer while in Ghana. A highlight for me was the mash up of Rory’s choral piece Bobobo Suite with full choir and our drummers and dancers in front. The sound was truly incredible and very powerful. I wish we could be backed by 175 voices all the time!!!

Rory’s piece “Sista”, for the smaller Les Choriste women’s choir unaccompanied,  had many in tears with its emotional impact and connectedness.

The concert finished with Gahu finale, an arrangement of mine that included members of the choir dancing in the aisles, and on stage with our drummers and dancers leading the way. It was a really stunning visual and sound experience, one of the best Gahus we have done! A few comments from audience and participants are below.

Special thanks to our manager Hayley de Bie, our parent chaperone/drivers and Jenifer Moir .

“All I can say is wow”

“Loved the concert … it was so powerful and I will never forget it.  Have told my kids that as soon as their kids are old enough it should be a must to see one of your shows.  That was the best one that I have seen.  And to have put it together so soon after your trip to Ghana was quite a feat.”

“That was a fabulous concert! I enjoyed every minute of it! Your performance of Gahu tonight was inspirational! Thank you for sharing so much cultural information as well.”

“What a total pleasure it was to be apart of that concert! I am totally inspired and was reminded why I study music. I have substituted passion with frustration these last couple years and tonight for the first time in a while I was able to relax and have genuine FUN and enjoy the beautiful music and dance!”

Last night was the first in our new “Try This” series. Owuo Begine taught a small enthusiastic group some Ghanaian Xylophone (Gyil) patterns at our studio. He began by explaining how the instrument is put together and tuned, and the buzzing sound that comes from the holes in the resonating gourds underneath the keys which originally would have had spider webs covering them but now are paper. The vibration of the paper on the holes results in the beautiful and unique sounds of these instruments.

Students tried various tricky patterns using two mallets and resulting in a complex sound. Owuo finished the evening by playing three gorgeous pieces for everyone. Owuo is currently living in Montreal after emigrating from Ghana two years ago. We are lucky to have him! Special thanks to Dominic & Tony for getting him to Ottawa last night.

Participant (and Baobab Board chair) Ian Brown had this to say:

“While it was different to drumming (and easier on the hands!) there were many similarities… it’s so easy to feel confident that you have a rhythm figured out, play it well for a few minutes and then it just mysteriously vanishes leaving you floundering. I think we  found that even when we did figure it out and could generally go up the notes well, coming back down was a whole other challenge, even though it was exactly the same rhythm! I really enjoyed Owuo’s teaching style – very relaxed but encouraging and easy to follow. I think the main enjoyment was the chance to do something totally new and unique.”

Next workshop in this series:

November 24, 2011: Art Project: Adinkra/ Kente picture  frames with Maureen Clarke

It was an early gig, and we drummed and danced from two balconies while international delegates dressed in colourful outfits were arriving, then we grabbed our Northern Ghanaian drums and led the dignitaries in to the stage for the opening talks.  All went well.