AFRICAN GRIOT + BAYEFALL DRUM BLESSING SOLO ACT
Since 2023 Dembis has been offering the DEMBIS THIOUNG: African Griot + Bayefall Drum Blessing act, an opening & closing drum ceremony where the audience embark on a rhythmic journey traveling across West Africa. As the master of his drums, he invites us all to experience the power of unity through sacred West African rhythms and shares wisdom from his Senegalese Bayefall & Griot oral traditions and personal experiences. His first performance of this solo act was the closing chapter of the ANCESTRAL FUTURE series hosted by Shumba Masai at the SOHO HOUSE representing Senegal. He also blessed the first of the monthly series of the PECKHAM LEVELS LIVE sessions organized by the LITTLE BAOBAB, opened at CAFE OTO, brought the powers to the magical FOLKLORE HOXTON and recently he has opened the Afro-Colombian Bullerengue AKOLA TAMBO at both JAMBOREE and DALSTON CURVE GARDENS.
MUSIC PRODUCTION
Dembis is a versatile independent performing artist, known for his collaborations on album recordings, contributions to TV soundtracks, and performances in theatrical productions.
He has played live, and recorded albums with internationally acclaimed artists such as Baaba Maal and Carlou D, as well as collaborated with Film Composer Harry Escott recording the main soundtrack theme for the second season of the FOX TV Series “Deep Estate”. Dembis’s aptitude for music, means that his skills as a percussionist are not reserved for West African rhythms alone, and he is able to, and is keen on working with artists from all global musical backgrounds. Most recently, in July 2022, Dembis performed for the second sold out run of the acclaimed theatre play SAMSKARA written and directed by award winning artist Lanre Malaolu, hosted at the The Yard theatre in Hackney, a deeply moving and transformative play about the Black male experience in Britain. He has also collaborated with DRUMMER WARRIOR STORYTELLER, an immersive live theatre production celebrating the legacy of Black excellence emerging from the creative renaissance and movement Village 101 directed by Apex Zero. He has lately recorded the ancestral rhythms of the soundtrack of the Shepherd's Bush Theatre commissioned play MY FATHER’S FABLE, composed by brilliant cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson, a play written by Faith Omole with a cast including BAFTA winner Rakie Oyola.
