Baobab Tree Drum · Dance · Society, is an umbrella organization which encompasses an
adult performance group Akpokli Drum and Dance Society, a youth
performance group Baobab Youth Performers; as well as
outreach programs and cross-cultural education initiatives.
We offer arts programming for ages 7 through adult. Classes in West African drumming, dancing and singing
bring together people of all ages and backgrounds in the Ottawa community. Through social events, performances,
and educational workshops, participants learn about themselves and their place in the world. Drumming provides
confidence, self-esteem, physical workout and community building. Baobab Tree is a socially responsible
organization that gives back to the African community by raising funds and awareness for the village of Dagbamete
in Ghana. Established in 1995, this multi-branched organization has reached thousands of people in the Ottawa and
surrounding area, while affecting lives throughout the world.
The music that Baobab Youth and Akpokli perform is recreational material from Ghana. That is, music that is
performed at a variety of social events such as weddings, funerals, wake-keepings, baby-naming ceremonies and
other community events. Emphasis is on individual expression within a framework of rhythm, song and movement.
The students learn the music and dance aurally, as it is learned in Ghana. Much emphasis is placed on language.
The rhythms of the drums are often spoken phrases, with the best of the lead drummers speaking proverbs.
In Ghana, drummers are traditionally expected to be the keepers of history, and share it through the playing of
the instruments. The groups sing in the Ewe and Ga languages of Ghana.
PEOPLE YOU'LL SEE
AROUND THE TREE
STAFF
Executive Director & Youth Performers Artistic Director
Kathy Armstrong is a percussionist and educator who is well-known for her work in bringing
Ghanaian music and dance to choirs, schools and community groups in North America and Europe.
She received her Master’s of Music from the University of Toronto, and has studied extensively in
Ghana since 1990. Performance highlights include soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic orchestra,
the NAC Orchestra and at Expo 98 in Lisbon. In addition she has been artist-in-residence at Queen’s
University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her commitment to community development and
cross-cultural understanding informs and strengthens the inherent power of this art form.
Based in Ottawa since 1994, she teaches at Carleton University as well as directing
Baobab Tree Drum Dance Community.
(((o)))
Operations Manager
A music lover her whole life, Hayley de Bie attended her first Baobab Tree performance
in 1998 and became our operations manager almost 10 years later in 2006. Her background is in
finance and she has been involved in setting up many small companies. She enjoys being involved
in all aspects of Baobab Tree from finance to being a "Roadie" in the white cargo van full of
drums. In addition to her knack for organization, Hayley brings her experience in community,
volunteerism and education to the Tree and always seems to have a smile for everyone!
(((o)))
Akpokli Artistic Director
After studying jazz performance and composition for a short time
at the Berklee College of Music, percussionist Larry Graves has
spent a great deal of time in and out of West Africa studying various
forms of indigenous and popular rhythm-based music since 1997.
Drawing from these sources, Larry creates original composed and
improvised works that he shares with others through performance
and teaching. Currently, he is working with various modern dance companies in Toronto;
teaching African Music on Faculty at York University;
and performing with his own co-creation, Toronto's Juno-nominated, World-funk
Orchestra, Mr. Something Something .
GUEST ARTISTS:
Baobab Tree regularly works with experienced and talented Guest Artists, here and in Ghana.
Some of our regulars are:
Master Drummer Kwasi Dunyo is friend, mentor, leader, teacher and inspiration for Baobab Tree members.
From the first meeting with him in Ghana in 1990, he has unfailingly supported our efforts to learn, enjoy and celebrate the
vibrant music and dance of his people and culture. Kwasi was born at the Ewe village of Dagbamete in the Volta Region of
Ghana. He has been drumming from the time he could only reach the drums by standing on blocks. Since then he has drummed,
danced, taught and directed extensively in a variety of contexts in Ghana and North America and most recently, Taiwan. Coming
to Canada first in 1992 with the help of the Canada Council, his open and generous style and great love of the music earned him
many praises. In addition to guest residencies at numerous universities, Kwasi is the founding director of the West African
Cultural Exchange, and annually hosts drumming tours to his village of Dagbamete in Ghana. Currently he is based in Toronto
where he teaches at the University of Toronto, York University and directs the Kekeli Ensemble.
(((o)))
Before coming to Canada, Dominic Donkor toured extensively with the prestigious Ghana National Dance Ensemble.
These tours took him to South America, Europe, South Africa & USA. Now based in Montréal, he is the Director of Keteke which
performs traditional music from Ghana.
(((o)))
Prosper Adjetey lives in Montreal and was also a touring member of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble, which
took him to Japan, as well as many other places around the world. Currently he is teaching classes and performing in Montreal,
in addition to being the assistant director of Keteke.
Class Instructors:
Kathy Armstrong: (see above)
(((o)))
Raised under the clear blue skies of the Canadian Prairie, Dave Bossmin's initial penchant for Ghanaian music coincided with his start
with Baobab Tree in 2002. While initially inspired by The Muppet Show's "Animal", he fully credits the Tree for taming and molding his current
percussive journey. A self-described "traditional purist" in more formal teaching environments, he's been covertly adding some Ghanaian "accents"
to Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones and (dare we say it) Boy George tunes as a member of the recently formed acoustic cover group "Snowbank Redemption".
Dave is the Rehearsal Director for Akpokli.
(((o)))
Gaelen Hart has been a member of Baobab Tree since 2003. In 2006, Gaelen went to Ghana as a chaperone with the
youth group. Currently teaching the Roots 1 class, she draws on her experience working with children from her teaching job with the
Ottawa Carleton Board. Gaelen believes that music unites people, taking away boundaries, permitting growth and further development.
West African drumming allows both Gaelen and her students to journey through music, dance and rhythm while working to remain an
individualized, unified group.
(((o)))
Shara Weaver began studying Ghanaian Ewe dance with Kathy Armstrong in 1998. She has since then studied a variety
of contemporary and traditional West African dance styles in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and in the US. Some of her teachers include
Michael Markus (New York, USA),Muro Koyate of the Ballet Nationale du Mali, Awa Zon (Bobo-Dialasso, Burkina Faso) and Kwasi Dunyo
(Ghana/Toronto). She performs with Rithm Project, with Larry Graves, in Ottawa schools; and was a dancer in Akpokli for 7 years. She
also teaches dance improvisation and is the co-director of Propeller Dance, a non-profit organization dedicated to dance for people
with and without disabilities.
photos: Ian Holland
How does a young white woman from Scarborough become an internationally
acclaimed specialist in West African drumming and dancing? Part of the
answer lies in those oft-quoted words of Hillary Clinton: "It takes
a village...", from "Bringing the beat from Africa to Kingston" by Pamela
Cornell, first published by PIC Press, Kingston, Ontario Canada.
read this article
about Kathy Armstrong Lodge
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