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Washington University in St. Louis News & Information= > <= /span>University News >

Musical revolution

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Media Assistance:

Liam Ott= en
Senior News Writer
liam_otten@wustl.edu<= /span>
(314) 935-8494

World renowned Les Percussions de Guin&eacut= e;e and Amazones: The Women Master Drummers of Guinea share = stage at Edison Theatre Oct. 23

By Liam Otten
<= /o:p>

Sept. 21, 2004 -- For centuries, masters of the sacred West African djembe drum have been exclusively male. But in 2002, Mamoudou Conde, managing direct= or of the world-renowned Les Percussion= s de Guinée, launched a revolutionary "sister" ensemble — Amazones: The Wo= man Master Drummers of Guinea.

Amazones: The Woman Master Drummers of Guinea perform at Edison Theatre Oct. 23.

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In October, these mus= ical siblings will share a = stage for the first time during a special, one-night-only performance at Washington University in St. Louis's Edison Theatre.

The concert, which kicks-off the 32nd annual Edison Theatre OVATIONS! Series, starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. Ticke= ts are $28; $24 seniors and Wash= ington University faculty = and staff; and $18 for students and children.

In addition, at 2 p.m= ., Amazones will present an all-ages matinee performance as part of the ovatio= ns! for young people series. Tickets are $7.

Edison Theatre is loc= ated in the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are available at the Edison Theatre Box Office a= nd through all MetroTix outlets. For more information, call (314) 935-6543.

Changing Ever= ything

The djembe drum origi= nated several hundred years ago in Guinea and is played throughout West Africa. It= is considered a magical, healing instrument that, in the hands of a great djembefola, or master drummer, has the power to transport people into other worlds.

Today, the most celeb= rated djembefolas are those of Les Percus= sions de Guinée. Founded in 1987 by the Ministry of Information, Culture a= nd Tourism, the 15-member ensemble includes seven master drummers chosen from among the best soloists of Guinea's national companies, as well as traditional dancers and additional musicians playing flute, balafon and kora.

Amazones dates back to 1998, when Conde — a master African sculptor whose World Music Produc= tion also manages the Guinean Dance Company, The Djoliba National Ballet (former= ly managed by Harry Bellafonte) and the famed Les Ballets Africains — was appointed producer and managing director of Les Percussions.

Calendar Summary

WHO: Amazones: The Women Master Drummers of Guinea= with Les Percussions de Guinée

WHAT: Edison Theatre OVATIONS! Se= ries

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23

WHERE: Edison Theatre, Washington Univer= sity, Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd.

COST: $28. Available through the = Edison Theatre Box Office, (314) 935-6543, and all MetroTix outlets <= /span>

"Why shouldn't a= woman play the Djembe?" Conde recalls wondering. In Western society, "w= omen had broken through the traditional barriers and had become equal … Wh= at was the reason so many other cultures have not followed the obvious lead of equality?"

Conde was inspired by= the example of his relative Keita Fodeba, a legendary choreographer whose found= ing of Les Ballets Africains in 1952 helped reshape the world's view of West African culture. "I would follow in the footsteps of Keita and do something amazing," Conde decided. "If I could change Guinea,= " birthplace of the djembe, "I could change everything."

At first, Conde encou= ntered resistance both amongst male drummers and government officials. However, a = more receptive audience was soon found in small, traditional villages, where eld= ers offered blessings and positive reinforcement. Soon, Conde was sponsoring ma= ster classes for female artists, whom he recruited "from among those living= in the most difficult conditions that an African woman has to endure: homeless, jobless and often with children to support. These women were warriors of ci= rcumstance."

In 2000, Conde includ= ed two female artists on Les Percussions' North American tour. The reception, both= by the male performers and audiences, was enthusiastic and the numbers of women attending master classes soon doubled. In 2002, seven of the strongest play= ers were selected for Amazones, the name chosen to reflect the group's courage = and skill in overcoming both personal circumstance and cultural taboo.

"A brave new adv= enture is beginning, a socio-cultural and economic departure from tradition, which= is fired by a fervent determination to attain the level of the great djembefolas and to live by the swea= t of their own brows," says Dr. Saidou Dioubate, Guinea's National Director= of Culture and an early supporter of Amazones. "Preconceptions melt away = and what is left is a powerful, energetic and grandiose spectacle, which sends = to the world its message of peace, optimism and serenity."

Edison Theatr= e

Edison Theatre's OVAT= IONS! Series serves both Washington University and the St. Lo= uis community by providing the highest caliber national and international artis= ts in music, dance and theater, performing new works as well as innovative interpretations of classical material not otherwise seen in St. Louis. Focusing on presentations th= at are interdisciplinary, multicultural and/or experimental, Edison Theatre presen= ts work intended to challenge, educate and inspire.

Edison Theatre progra= ms are made possible with support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, = and the Regional Arts Commission, = St. Louis. Additional support is provided by The Heart= land Arts Fund, a joint project of Arts Midwest and the Mid-America Arts Allianc= e.

Contact Information


Contact Information
•	Jennifer Killion Marketing Manager, Edison Theatre = jkillion@artsci.wustl.ed= u (314) 935-4478

Related Information

Related Links: =


•	Amazones Web p= age (http://www.amazoneswomandrum= mers.com/)

•	Les Percussio= ns de Guinée (http://www= .lespercussionsdeguinee.com/)

Related Groups:=