WHO:  Standing Rock Cultural Arts presents

WHAT:  Drumming and Nyatiti Workshop

‍Stories of the Luo Culture of Kenya

Taught by Mango Boniface of Kenge Kenge Orutu System

-The nyatiti is a traditional stringed instrument of the Luo

WHEN:  October 4th - October 29th

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-8pm

Oct 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27, 29

Grand Finale Performance and Parade on October29, 8pm!

-Audience participation

WHERE:  North Water Street Gallery

300 N. Water St.,Suite J

Kent, OH  44240

Registration: $10 per class. $80 for whole workshop

Call 330-673-4970 or emailinfo@standingrock.net to register.

Mango Boniface Bio:

Boniface OdhiamboMango, the drummer, assistant band leader, and choreographer of Kenge Kenge Orutu System. Kenge Kenge Orutu System is a cultural heritageband of the Luo tribe in Western Kenya, based in Nairobi.  Theyteach, perform, and preserve the rich traditions of culture, spokenhistory and lore, music, dance, and instrumentation.

The band hasperformed for WOMAD, WOMAX, The Smithsonian Institute, ChicagoInternational Music Festival, Albuquerque NM Music Festival, at Lincoln Center, Roskilde Festival Denmark,  Spring World MusicFestival - Israel, Mission Folk Festival - Vancouver, RainforestWorld Music Festival - Malaysia, and extensively in the USA.  Several members of the band travel independently to collaborate withmusicians across the globe.  Mango has recently been invited toreturn to the  Sharjah Institute for Heritage, in the EAU to play thenyatiti alongside a master story teller of Kenyan lore for the 22ndannual Sharjah International Narrator forum.

Mango lived his early life in Nairobi, then moved to his family's home village of Siaya (see-I-uh)  when he was seven years old. His mother farmed andworked various jobs to raise him and his four siblings.

He now divides histime, living in both Nairobi and Siaya with his wife and three teenaged daughters.  Mango is attending electrical trade school whenhe is not traveling the world as the drummer of Kenge Kenge Orutu System.

Not only does Mango specialize in the making and performing of traditional Luo drums, buthe also is a traditional storyteller for the Luo, Kikuyu, and Luhyatribes of western and central Kenya.

Standing RockCultural Arts

300 N. Water St.,Suite H

Kent, OH  44240

330-673-4970

www.standingrock.net

Standing RockCultural Arts is a non profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  Weinvite and welcome sponsors to help cover expenses for our art andeducational activities.   Donations are tax deductible.

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