WEST AFRICAN PROFESSIONAL PERCUSSIONIST

Weekly PENCHMI drum+dance circles

The word Penchmi (in Senegalese Wolof is written “Penthmi)” is the word we use to describe the gathering of the ancestors, timeless/spaceless, to discuss all matters of life, justice and peace, but most of all to remind us of the LOVE and RESPECT shared among each other.

In this portal participants are encouraged to connect with themselves and each other through sound, movement, and the wisdom of the spirit of the ancestral drums. These sessions are hosted by the value “Teranga”: the act to share and support each other always in happiness. Its core virtue is to measure wealth and abundance not for how much we have, but for how much we share and give to others. The “teranga” it’s the essence of the Senegalese culture. As a griot, my mission here in the UK is to expand and transmit the ancestral wisdom of our powerful West African traditions through drumming. Opening energetic portals through sound that allow us to connect with our ancient natural ways into the present, bringing awareness and the willing to manifest a rising future, in unity. To do that we create a safe collective healing space that allow us to reenergise the body, the mind and the spirit, connecting together inwards, outwards and with the ancestral realm reminding us all of our origins. Taking as reference the teachings of my spiritual Senegalese leader, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, who lead a non violent spiritual revolution against the oppression of the French coloners, along his disciple Ibrahim Fall, I intend in all my drumming to transmit their values: non violent fighting, peace, tolerance, respect, hard work, selfless service to others, the significance of cultural identity, self-sufficiency, forgiveness… the way on how we can become truly humane again. My drumming is inclusive to everybody, all ages, races, genders, levels, faiths, open for people to express fully, freely and respectfully. The message from our ancestors is clear: some have tried to annihilate us, some said we are no more, but we are here, our ancestors are always with us and we are here to remember the old, ancient, righteous, natural ways, that will lead us closer to our divine selves, a powerful transformation that will take us to a state of constant bliss, peace and wellness.