Holistic Drum

10/15/2026

⏰ LAST CALL FOR BOKA KOUYATÉ!
Our final playshop of the year is almost here.
Come spend an afternoon with Boka Kouyaté, renowned Seattle-based Guinean musician and member of a hereditary griot family.

This is an opportunity to learn from a musician whose relationship with West African music began in childhood and has continued through decades of performance, teaching and cultural work.
🥁 Saturday, October 17 — Benicia 🥁 Sunday, October 18 — San Mateo 🥁
If you've been thinking about it…This is your sign. Register today at holisticdrum.com/playshops,
Don't miss the chance to learn with him while he's here... and let's finish the playshop year with a good one!

10/11/2026

He's almost here! In just one week, you too can enjoy the special sauce that renowned Seattle-based drummer Boka Kouyaté has concocted for us.
Don't miss the chance to learn and play with him while he's here!
🥁 Saturday, October 17 — Benicia
🥁 Sunday, October 18 — San Mateo
If you've been thinking about it… This is your sign.
Register now to finish this playshop year in song and rhythm!
holisticdrum dot com under playshops.
(FB now charges a fee to post links!)

10/07/2026

Whether you've been playing for years or you're still figuring out which hand is which… 😉 There's something valuable about learning directly from a musician whose relationship with the music began in childhood.
Boka Kouyaté has been teaching and sharing traditional African music for more than 20 years, specializing in djembe, dunun, balafón and singing.
And now we're bringing his teaching to the Bay Area in just a couple of weeks!
Join us for the kind of learning that stays with you!
🥁 October 17 — Benicia 🥁 October 18 — San Mateo 🥁
Don't miss him... Grab your spot today while there's still time! holisticdrum.com under Playshops.

10/04/2026

Imagine growing up in a family where the history of your people isn't sitting on a bookshelf.
You carry it.
You sing it.
You play it.
You tell it.
That's part of the tradition of the Mandé griot. Boka Kouyaté was born into that tradition in Guinea.
This October, the Bay Area gets a rare chance to spend time learning with him.
Not just a rhythm. Not just a technique.
A little piece of a much larger musical tradition can be yours by reserving your spot at holisticdrum.com/playshops
❤️ October 17 — Benicia ❤️ October 18 — San Mateo ❤️

Next weekend! Don't miss this opportunity!

10/04/2026

Are you interested in learning about the vibrant rhythms and cultural traditions of West Africa? If so, Hope & Holistic Drum are excited to announce our upcoming series of West African percussion classes starting on October 14 in Redwood City and October 20 in Alamo! 🎶✨🎵

Drumming offers a huge range of benefits for the brain. From cognitive stimulation and stress reduction to emotional expression and increased brain connectivity, regular drumming practice can contribute to improved brain health and well-being. Whether you're an experienced drummer or a beginner, embracing the rhythmic world of drumming can be a fantastic way to enhance your brain function and enjoy the rewards of music & community it offers.
🪘Learn more and join us this month with info at holisticdrum.com/classes 🪘

Classes UPCOMING CLASSES 2026African Drum Rhythms & PercussionRegistration & Info for Summer/Fall 2026 is below!Join us for a new way of creating music and connectivity!You are invited to take part in a journey to discover a different way of connecting with the drum, with yourself, and with each oth...

09/30/2026

So… just what is a griot?
In the Mandé cultures of West Africa, a griot — or more traditionally djely/jeli — is far more than a musician. Griots are known as the keepers of oral history and cultural knowledge.

They preserve genealogies, stories, songs and traditions, and they may serve as musicians, storytellers, praise singers, teachers, advisors and community historians. For generations, this knowledge has been carried through voice, memory, music and story.
Boka Kouyaté was born into this tradition.
So when Boka teaches music, he isn't simply passing along notes and rhythms. He is sharing knowledge rooted in a living cultural lineage.
And we get to experience it here in the Bay Area in just a few weeks in...
🥁 Benicia — October 17 🥁 San Mateo — October 18 🥁
Reserve your spot today at holisticdrum dot com under playshops

09/27/2026

Meet Boka Kouyaté! Born in Guinea into a family of Mandé griots, Boka grew up surrounded by music, storytelling and tradition.

As a child, he traveled with his mother, a Djely singer, singing with her from ceremony to ceremony. His father, a guitarist, balafón player and traditional storyteller, became one of his first musical teachers. That early immersion became a lifetime of music.

Boka went on to perform throughout West Africa before moving to the United States in 2014. Today, he is a respected musician and educator in Seattle, where he leads the Djeliyah Band and shares Guinean music through performance and teaching.

And now, he's coming south!
📍 Benicia — Oct. 17 📍 San Mateo — Oct. 18 📍

Come learn from Boka and experience the muse behind the music. Save your spot today at: holisticdrum dot com under playshops!

Playshops Holistic Drum hosts custom playshops and guest artists. Our playshops are customized to meet your audience’s needs. From corporate events, kids parties, team & community building, to weddings and other ceremonies, Holistic Drum offers a fun and safe way to explore. Participants learn abo...

09/23/2026

Djembe. Dunun. Balafón. Guitar. Voice. Boka Kouyaté is not just a drummer. He is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Guinea, and his musical world reflects the broad tradition he grew up in.

So when you sit down with Boka, you're stepping into a much bigger musical picture — one where rhythm, melody, movement, language and story all belong together.

We're lucky to have him making the trip to the Bay Area! Get your tix today at holisticdrum.com/playshops
🥁 October 17 — Benicia 🥁 October 18 — San Mateo 🥁

09/19/2026

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ENDS FRIDAY 9/25!
Just $40 in advance, ONLY WITH hopeinsitepublicitypercussion.getgalore.com

If you think West African music is just about the drum, Boka Kouyaté will change your mind. His sounds reflect both traditional Guinean music and the evolving beats of today's West Africa. It's tradition that isn't standing still. And that's one of the things that makes learning from Boka so unique!

October 17 — Benicia • October 18 — San Mateo

09/16/2026

What happens when a musician carries generations of musical knowledge with him? Come meet Boka Kouyaté, a Guinean singer, drummer, balafón player and member of a hereditary Mandé griot family.

Now based in Seattle, Boka has spent decades performing and teaching West African music. His musical world stretches far beyond the drum, bringing together rhythm, melody, song, history and culture.

And this October, he’s bringing it to the Bay Area. ❤️
https://holisticdrum.com/playshops/

🥁 Benicia — October 17
🥁 San Mateo — October 18

One more playshop this year. Don’t miss this one!