The Chicago Djembe Project is committed to promoting respect and cooperation across cultures and genders through the West African djembe tradition. CDP made major contributions to African drumming nationally by:

• Introducing Famoudou Konaté to North America, organizing his first four workshop tours from 2000-2004, securing his visa, translating his promotional materials and hosting him in the US. Konaté, the source of our training and repertoire, is internationally acknowledged as the most knowledgeable musician in the field of djembe drumming.

• developing the "mini-camp" and business models for African drumming that have since been adopted nationwide.

•Giving North American students access to Konaté's workshops in Africa, making promotional materials available for the first time in English.

• Bringing Konaté apprentices Nansady Keita and Sayon Camara to the USA for their first and only North American workshops and performances.

Chicago Djembe Project founders Jim Banks and Lilian Friedberg, PhD., share a combined history of over 30 years' international experience working with master drummers (Famoudou Konate, Mamady Keita, Soungalou Coulibally, Nansady Keita, and others). In 2006, they formed "Hooked on Drums"--a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to bring the drum traditions of West Africa to youth in economically disadvantaged areas. In April and August 2009, Hooked on Drums hosted master drummer Billy Naniouma Konate for his first-ever experience working with American students in the United States. Video from those workshops and performances is available here.

A pictionary history Friedberg/Banks' work is available on the Hooked on Drums Blog at
http://www.hookedondrums.bl...