Akrowa Dance Ensemble, Drumming in Kokrobite Ghana

This is a video of a rehearsal of the Akrowa Dance Ensemble based in Kokrobite, outside of Accra Ghana. The group has about 10 drummers and several dancers, three of whom were practicing their moves along with the group. Cultural dancing often involves playing out a story.

Toward the end of the video, there is an informal interview with Okoe Ardyfio, the founder of Akrowa Dance Ensemble. He has studied, traveled with, and currently works with Mustapha Tettey Addy, the renowned Ghanaian drummer and founder of the Academy of African Music and Arts (AAMA). In addition to leading Akrowa and traveling around the world performing, Okoe also teaches drumming and cultural dancing.

Drumming lessons with Okoe are included in this tour (Day 3):
http://www.palacetravel.com/tours/itineraries/228

Don't miss the end of this video!

Visit http://www.PureGhana.com - because Ghana Is Beautiful.

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Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• kokrobite
• drumming
• drums
• ghanaian
• music
• akrowa
• okoe
• ardyfio
• teacher
• lessons
• aama
• workshop
• ghana
• tour
• pureghana
• africa

[peppermintolive]

i studied with oko!

[pureghana]

wow, good for you. i wish i'd had more time to work with him.

[peteis2cool4u]

oh my god its okoh, i miss those guys so much

[pureghana]

hi pete, did you study with okoe too?

[surambaya]

The little girls at the end are so cute!

[pureghana]

Yeah they're adorable. :-)

[throbule]

Pure joy - thanks for the video

[theprincesstracy]

i just returned from ghana and saw these guys perform while i was there, if i can figure how to post stuff on there, i will post some their performances. they were fantastic, and extremely welcoming .

[KinshipWAMBaGhanaba]

This is real nice of you to post this. I hope it garners some cool performance invitatons for them

[mattkb14]

spectacular!

[12friendlytoad]

This issue has been discussed and sorted out. Oko is doing well.

[chefsym]

i JUST SEEN THEM IN JULY THEY WERE SO GREAT. iF YOU EVER GO GHANA YOU HAVE TO SEE THEM.

[12friendlytoad]

Oko has no right to claim this group others started it and handed it to him. The boys drumming were trained by those who came before. Those who came before are very unhappy about this.

[pookie89659]

so I really wanna know, who else studied with oko?? lol...WHO CARES!!! I bet you can't drum like oko...lol

[naphtali308]

hi pete, good for you, that sounds great.

[peteis2cool4u]

yes i did, my school did a trip to kokrobite last march, he is actually coming to new york in April i am not sure of the exact date but he will be coming to teach at my school for a couple weeks. i am so excited i learned so much from him