Project 2009
Ernest. Nii Anang, and Obuobi are cultural ambassadors who traveled from Ghana, West Africa to Kauai, Hawaii to exchange indigenous music and dance.
View Aloha-Africa Photo Montage from Kauai People Magazine
The Aloha Africa guest artists study Hula with Kumu Jessi Jardin.
Aloha Africa brings African drumming, rhythm, singing, and dance to Hanalei and other schools around Kauai.
Aloha-Africa offers public classes and performances, as well as private lessons and shows.
It must be wonderful to be so devoted to your practice/ dharma of joining the soulfilled musical elements of Africa with the Aloha of Kaua'i, ultimately uplifting Africa and Kaua'i (and, indeed the energy of the Hawaiian islands), through the unifying and divine embrace of the cultures.
You are doing a great work isa, if you can call it work; it is more like you are doing a Great Love, and I just wanted to acknowledge you for it. (Richard Diamond)
Contact our Guest Artists
OBUOBI ASHONG 652-2170
ERNEST BORKETEY 652-0024
NII ANANG 346-1730
ISA MARIA(BOOKINGS) 652-6139 isamagic@gmail.com
See our calendar page for further details on classes and events.
Aloha-Africa 2007
Aloha-Africa brought master drummer Ernest Borketey from Ghana to Kauai for a cultural exchange from February through June 2007
Drumming Classes
Thanks to a generous grant from the Stephen Stills Foundation, every child in Hanalei School attended drum classes with Ernest, assisted by Love Tribe member Rachel.
Darryl Miyasato's percussion class at Kauai High School.
Performance
Photos by Fawne Frailey, Candace Freeland
Photo by Anne O'Malley
Ernest performed around the island with Love Tribe.
Cultural Exchange
There is powerful medicine in the unity of earth-based cultures. In both Hawaii and Africa, dancers and musicians are the keepers of tradition, history, and spiritual practice. We believe that our project provides an authentic means to preserve and transmit deep indigenous knowledge … dancer to dancer, drummer to drummer.
Ernest with Anthropologist Mimi George, Kumu Hula Roselle Bailey, Meph Wyeth, Jessi Jardin, and Halau.
With Aloha-Africa's Kumu Hula Jessi Jardin
Audio and Video Recordings
Bruce Orth recorded Ernest's first CD, Gye Nyame, at Kalihiwai Studios for Wild River Records.
Zak at Wovenmedia Productions created a beautiful instructional DVD titled Invitation to Drumming.
Sol Man Productions documented the Aloha-Africa project and televised presentations on Hoi'ke Community Television.
Ernest with Kumu Hula Jessi Jardin and Kauai's own African drumming ensemble, Love Tribe, performed at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center for the 2007 Grand Finale Ho'ike of Aloha Africa
