Aduna can provide full-day or half-day workshops based around African music (including drumming), dance film, storytelling, textiles, fashion and the visual arts.
Our philosophy is that children become engaged in learning about Africa through participating in performances. Music and the arts are then used as a catalyst for discussion and debate about a number of themes such as globalisation, fair trade, development, migration, identity and heritage.
- Available artists include, amongst others, a Sierra Leonean story teller, Senegalese drummers and dancers, a Rwandan DJ, Malian praise-singers, Ghanaian acrobats and a balafon (xylophone) player from Burkina Faso.
- The sessions are suitable for children of all ages but especially those in Key Stages 3 and 4.
- The workshops respond to learning requirements in the history, geography, French, art and design, music and citizenship curricula.
Fees are negotiable. However, additional charges may apply for the development of tailor-made materials.
We can also deliver INSET training and ‘taster’ workshops for boroughs with EMAG programmes.
Children’s comments about Aduna workshops:
Thank you for coming. The students really enjoyed the drumming session even though their hands were killing them afterwards ! There are some organisations that would only show us the drums but would not let us play them. You helped us understand the lifestyle of Africa more than a textbook would. We learnt many things which made us realise that Africa is different to what we had thought. We would love you to come again – we all gained so much from just a few hours. We would once again like to thank you – the pleasure was all ours.
Gifted and Talented Summer School , Queensmead School , Ruislip
When Malian praise singer Assa Drame came to Petersfield Primary School it was one of the most enjoyable and educational things that had ever happened. As she sang her songs the students and teachers sat and listened in amazement. Assa’s band had the most unusual instruments the school had ever seen. They had the most exotic names as well. Assa had the most powerful voice. It was so full of passion as though she really meant what she was singing. Even though they spoke French we had a translator so we could ask questions about their culture, clothes, etc. Assa and her band have really inspired me and I would really like to go to Mali one day because of her coming to sing at Petersfield School.”
Year 5 Pupil, Petersfield Primary School, Cambridgeshire
Aduna is currently setting up an ambitious programme of school twinning between the UK, Senegal and Mali. Young people will work on a variety of collaborative projects in the performing and visual arts with a view of increasing mutual understanding and challenging stereotypes. The underlying premise is that creative exchanges can be used to increase cross-cultural learning, to celebrate diversity and to encourage local stability and development both in Africa and the UK.
connecting cultures "cross-cultural collaboration and understanding"
Our philosophy is that children become engaged in learning about Africa through participating in performances. Music and the arts are then used as a catalyst for discussion and debate about a number of themes such as globalisation, fair trade, development, migration, identity and heritage.
When Malian praise singer Assa Drame came to Petersfield Primary School it was one of the most enjoyable and educational things that had ever happened. As she sang her songs the students and teachers sat and listened in amazement. Assa’s band had the most unusual instruments the school had ever seen. They had the most exotic names as well. Assa had the most powerful voice. It was so full of passion as though she really meant what she was singing. Even though they spoke French we had a translator so we could ask questions about their culture, clothes, etc. Assa and her band have really inspired me and I would really like to go to Mali one day because of her coming to sing at Petersfield School.”