Nii Kpakpo Addo is a well-known Ghanaian master dancer, drummer and choreographer. He is a multi-instrumentalist with over 24 years’ experience in performance and has toured in Sweden, Israel, the USA and many African countries. Fred has worked with dance companies such as Nokoba Dance Company, Kusun Ensemble and the Anunyam Traditional Music and Dance Troupe, and he recently hosted a peace festival in Nungua, Ghana, called Womba Africa. Fred is passionate about promoting peace and unity through tradition.

Odai Affotey is a traditional custodian of Southern Ghanaian drum and dance knowledge. Growing up in the coastal village of Nungua, Ghana, Odai spent his youth imitating the movement and rhythm of his ancestral legacy. At the age of seven, he was an integral part of the Suadey Cultural Group which later evolved into the Nokoyejen Cultural Group. In his youth, he held directorial and choreographic roles within the Edinkra ensemble and later went on to dance as part of the internationally acclaimed Kusun ensemble, which toured West Africa and parts of the Northern United States.

Emmanuel was born in Accra, Ghana and is of the Ga ethnic group. From a young age, he was drawn to percussion and played with friends on Milo tins and boxes. Emmanuel’s talent was spotted by a local who took him to Team Afrique – a local drum & dance ensemble – where had the opportunity to study traditional rhythms from Asanti, Ewe and Ga regions. From the age of 19 Emmanuel performed for weddings, funerals, parties, political events and festivals in Ghana.

In 2015 Emmanuel arrived in Australia and he is now a sought after musician. He currently plays with Asanti Dance Theatre, One Spirit Africa, Jali Bouba, Melbourne Djembe and Sun of Africa Drum & Dance Ensemble.

Mohamed Camara is a highly sought-after performer and Guinean music educator based in Melbourne. He was born into the Manding culture in Guinea Conakry, West Africa, whose rich and vibrant musical tradition has been a life-long passion. Arriving in Australia in 2007, Mohamed has performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre and Hamer Hall, and has performed and facilitated workshops at WOMAdelaide, Woodford Folk Festival, Darwin Festival, Moomba and Dark Mofo. Mohamed has toured nationally with Asanti Dance Theatre and Muhanamwe, sponsored by the Australia Council’s Playing Australia.

With a love for music that started with playing drum kit in Blues and Rock music, Nick started hitting the tubs at age 12 and hasn’t stopped yet. Nick has studied music in Darwin, Lismore and Melbs. He has been performing and teaching a wide range of music styles on drum kit and percussion all over Australia for 20 years. Nick regularly plays dunduns for dance classes and in the performance group Wassawumba.

Bouba was born and raised in Senegal and he first started drumming at age 14. He moved to Japan when he was 18 and lived there for nine years, working as a full-time musician before taking a holiday to Melbourne at age 27. Bouba fell in love with Melbourne and has enjoyed a successful career here ever since. Bouba is the founding member of renowned Afro group Ausecuma Beats. He facilitates workshops and performs regularly.