CRM in Concert
In many African traditions, live music comes with an invitation to participate. If you’re within earshot, you’re a part of it! Crocodile River Music’s band of exceptional African artists brings this participatory ethos across New England through high-energy performances that celebrate African cultures. Exuberant and infectious rhythms beckon, and before long, audiences join the band in singing, dancing, and clapping along.
Founded in 2011 and based in Worcester, MA, Crocodile River Music (CRM) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect audiences with African artists and cultures through performance and education. Since its founding, CRM has proudly brought African arts to 330,000 people through over 1,250 performances and over 3,250 workshops.
Thierno Camara
Seven-string Bass guitarist Thierno Camara hails from Senegal and has toured the world with some of Africa’s best-known artists, including Moussa Ngom, Cheick Lo, Kine Lam, and Thione Seck. Since emigrating to the U.S., Thierno has performed and recorded with noted jazz artists Ornette Coleman, Greg Osby, and Cornelius Kreusch.
Issa Coulibaly
Artistic Director and Master Drummer Issa Coulibaly leads the CRM ensemble from his djembe. Issa studied djembe and dundun in his native Mali and toured Africa and Europe extensively before emigrating to the U.S. Issa is a featured artist on two GRAMMY-winning albums. He has been on faculty at Brown University and Connecticut College.
Abou Sylla
Born into a family of traditional musicians in Guinea, as a child, Abou lived and studied with his balafon teacher before joining his family’s performing ensemble. Abou also regularly performed with Les Ballets Africains, the national dance company of Guinea. Abou’s performance, teaching, and instrument-building work takes him around the world.
Meet CRM’s Core Musicians
Yacouba Diabate
Yacouba is from Burkina Faso, where his family members are well known griots and musicians. His performance career has taken him throughout Africa, Europe, and the U.S. In addition to performing and teaching, Yacouba makes and sells traditional African string and percussion instruments. He also performs as a solo artist and with his group, the Dounouya Band.
CRM in Concert
Under the direction of master-djembe player Issa Coulibaly, the CRM ensemble brings together musicians from Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, and the United States for high-energy, interactive performances of African music. CRM band members are masters of their craft who have performed in dozens of cities throughout Africa, Europe, and the United States. Drawing heavily from the living Griot tradition of musical story-telling, CRM’s concert programs celebrate African cultural heritage spanning from court music of 13th-century Mail to new, original compositions and feature traditional instruments like djembe, dundun, kora, n’goni, and balafon.
“Yiriba”
A song from Mali in the Bambara language that encourages respect for one’s elders. In this folk song, Elders are compared to trees and are revered for the important role they play as knowledge-keepers and transmitters of oral histories.
“Bani”
A traditional Malian song that teaches the importance of saying no to present situations that could disrupt peace later and have negative implications for others.
Participant Takeaways Include
Hands-on introduction to some of the foundational rhythms in African drumming and/or foundational steps in African dance
Hands-on introduction to several traditional African instruments and their functions in social music-making
Introduction to the important role that the arts play in African in the keeping and inter-generational transmission of cultural knowledge
African Drum & Dance Workshops
Crocodile River Music has given over 3,250 African drumming and dance workshops since its founding in 2011. Led by African musicians and dancers, workshops offer fun, low-barrier, hands-on engagement with African arts and culture. No musical or dance experience necessary.
Plan Your Experience
info@crocodilerivermusic.org
508.792.2787
44 Portland Street, 7th Floor
Worcester, MA 01608