Baobab Community is a registered charity dedicated to the learning and sharing of the arts of Ghana, West Africa. Our programming offers regular arts education opportunities for children and youth ages 7 through 18, monthly workshops for adults, as well as a summer day camp for ages 7-12. Through social events, performances, educational classes and workshops, participants learn about themselves and their place in the world.
Drumming provides confidence, self-esteem, physical workout and community building. Baobab is a socially responsible organization that has a 25+ year relationship with the village of Dagbamete in Ghana. This relationship has fostered economic development projects, artistic partnerships, international friendships, personal growth and inter-cultural knowledge.
Established in 1995, this multi-branched organization has reached thousands of people of all ages in the Ottawa and surrounding area, while affecting lives throughout the world.
Two-time Juno Winner, drummer Kofi Ackah will join Baobab Youth for “Highlife Time” the first concert in our 25th Anniversary season, on Saturday November 2 at St Brigid’s Centre for the Arts. Kofi comes from the legendary Ackah family in Ghana. His father, Jewel Ackah, was a founder of the popular highlife music genre. As a teenager, Kofi joined his father’s band as a percussionist and travelled to entertain Ghana’s president. Ackah was the drummer of the 2005 Juno Award-winning band African Guitar Summit, regarded by some as the best African music band in Canada. He played Canada’s Live 8 concert, sharing the stage with the likes of Bryan Adams and Neil Young. He currently performs with the Okavango African Orchestra which also won the Juno award for best World Music album in 2017. Ottawa audiences will remember him well as the drummer in the Mighty Popo Band. For this special project, Kofi will be bringing two members of his late father’s highlife band, keyboardist Quando Harrison and bassist Kobby Dolly. The highlife band will be augmented by a student horn section from Carleton University’s Music program and longtime Baobab friends and teachers, Dominic Donkor and Prosper Adjetey, both former members of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble.
In short, this will be an all-star evening, that will get the audience grooving and dancing, and help kick off Baobab Community’s 25th and farewell season! Concert starts at 7:30pm
The evening will begin at 6pm with a special vernissage and vintage poster sale, featuring the fantastic archival poster art of Baobab’s graphic artist, John Sekerka. Cash bar in Brigid’s well.
Tickets $20 Available online at:https://baobab25season.brownpapertickets.com/
After twenty-five years of cultivating community relationships through West African drumming, singing and dancing, we are announcing that 2019-2020 will be our final season. This 25th Anniversary year will celebrate all that is unique and memorable about Baobab’s program, with special concerts, artistic collaborations and a cultural immersion experience in the village of Dagbamete, Ghana.
Check out the full story on our BLOG!
