Dagara Music and Arts Center - DMC

Preparing to present at PASIC 2023 - Percussive Arts Society International Convention with Balsab Jerome and friends ahead of the upcoming Saakumu Dance Troupe tour February-April 2024.

We are also raising some funds to offset the overhead cost of tour start up; VISA’s, legal fees, and plane tickets… over $15,000 to get to the starting line! So there is no donation too small- every bit counts! You can also support by sharing the campaign with your network over the next couple months.

Want to bring Saakumu to your school? Check out our site: www.SaakumuDanceTroupe.com

❤️🙏🎶

https://gofund.me/51c3a6b0

Saakumu 2024 Tour, organized by Griffin Brady The Saakumu Dance Troupe will return to the USA to tour to schools, colleges, universities and venues … Griffin Brady needs your support for Saakumu 2024 Tour

We can't believe it's already been a whole month since we hosted West Virginia University for our DMC summer season in Ghana! We're so grateful to all of you who came out to celebrate and participate in this wonderful event.

It was such an incredible experience, full of fun, new friendships, and great partnerships. We hope you had as much fun as we did.

SAAKUMU Dance Troupe returns to America 2023!

SAAKUMU Returns to the USA 2023!, organized by Griffin Brady Help me raise some funds for the Bernard Woma Dagara Music Center USA 501(c)(3) and he… Griffin Brady needs your support for SAAKUMU Returns to the USA 2023!

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday on 11/29, give to Bernard Woma Dagara Music Center USA! Your contributions are instrumental in the upcoming Saakumu Tour and DMCUSA programs!

Visit this link below to donate online.

You can also mail a donation to:

1945 Davis Road
West Falls, NY
USA




www.SaakumuDanceTroupe.com

Venmo | Bernard Woma Dagara Music Center USA Use Venmo to connect with Bernard Woma Dagara Music Center USA () - The Bernard Woma Dagara Music Center 501(c)3 is based in Buffalo, NY and has been created to preserve the legacy of Bernard Woma and continue his mission

Thank you again for helping us make this event one that will be remembered for years to come, we are also grateful for all of our family and friends who came out to celebrate with us the legacy of our late father, friend and teacher! "Bernard Woma"
May we all continue to hold his legacy in high esteem to fulfill his dreams.

Tonight, Bernard Woma, our friend and the father of our Ghanaian children, will be inducted posthumously into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. From https://www.pas.org/About/pas-news/2022/05/25/hall-of-fame-class-of-2022

"Bernard Woma (1966-2018) was from the Gbannε clan of the Dagara people. He was born on December 18, 1966, in the village of Hiineteng, in the Upper West Region. His father noticed that, as a newborn, Bernard’s hands were clenched in fists, as if he was clutching xylophone mallets, a sign that he was destined to become a Gyil player. Consequently, Bernard began playing the gyil when he was two years old and became known for his musical abilities throughout the Upper West Region as he grew older.

In 1982, Bernard moved to the capital city of Accra and began to play the gyil for the Dagara community in the city. Soon after, in 1989, he was offered the position of solo xylophonist for Ghana’s National Dance Company at the National Theatre of Ghana. In 1992 he was also appointed as the Master Drummer of the company and held the honorable position as the ceremonial Atumpan Drummer for Ghanaian State functions for the rest of his life.

In 1997, Bernard founded and became Artistic Director of Saakumu Dance Troupe of Ghana. He went on to establish the Dagara Music Center (DMC) in 1999 so that he could train and teach Ghanaian and foreign students the diverse forms of traditional music, dance, and arts from around the country in order to preserve them and promote their embedded values. Bernard’s leadership and vision created a friendly and collegial learning environment that attracted people from around the world to come to study and learn from him.

At the invitation of Dr. Kay Stonefelt, Bernard was invited to become a guest lecturer at the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1999. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies with minors in History and Arts Administration from the State University of New York at Fredonia, (May 2008), and two Masters degrees in African Studies and Folklore & Ethnomusicology at Indiana University (2012 and 2015). During the twenty years that he spent in the United States, Bernard held residencies and adjunct faculty and guest artist positions in many universities and colleges. He also presented many scholarly papers and lecture demonstrations at international conferences. His scholarship became part of a deeply engaged educational praxis when, in 2008, he brought the Saakumu Dance Troupe to the US for what would become an annual international tour.

As a performer, Bernard shared the stage with renowned artists such as Maya Angelou, Yo Yo Ma, and Glen Velez. He performed for international dignitaries and presidents such as U.S. President Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, and Queen Elizabeth II. In 2009, he served as the cultural resource person for President Barack Obama’s family when they visited Ghana. He also was a co-founder of Jumbie Records and founder of the New York’s AXF: African Xylophone Festival.

On April 27, 2018, Bernard passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. During his life, Bernard touched thousands of people through his music, teaching, and compassion for others.

Dates are finally out, fill free and pick a date!!!