Family Concert – No. 3 – Djembe Fire

Join The Magic of African Rhythms in an interactive concert featuring West and Central African dance, drumming melodic instruments, and song. Teli, Mabiniti and Aya Shabu will demonstrate the fundamentals of African drumming and its origins.

Family Concerts are appropriate for any one 5-years-old plus, and are about one-hour long. They are held in Kirby Horton Hall at the beautiful Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

These concerts are free and open to the public.

Sponsored by Mark and Cindy Kuhn

Teli Shabu

Born in Liberia, West Africa, Teli is the Musical Director and lead percussionist for The Magic of African Rhythms. He teaches drum class for adults and youth throughout North Carolina. He has traveled the U.S. and West Africa studying percussions and kora with masters. Awarded Best Original Music 2012 for his work on The Brothers Size at Manbites Dog Theater by Indy Weekly Magazine, his kora playing was recorded for the score of I Love My Hair On Good Days Then Again When it’s Defiant and Impressive in March of the same year. Teli was most recently was featured on Kim Arrington’s sophomore album Getting II Yes.

Mabiniti Shabu 

Mabinti has been dancing all of her life, touring and performing with dance companies in NYC and abroad. Mabinti is a master Balafon and Ngoni player. She is currently recording a new album. She play djembe and dunduns with Valerie Naranjo, The African American Dance Ensemble, and many more!

Aya Shabu

Aya has been a dancer and drummer with The Magic of African Rhythm since 2005, and is currently the company’s Managing Director. A 2012-2013 Emerging Artist Grant recipient, Aya has choreographed for the some of the Triangle’s best theatrical productions last year, most notably The Parchman Hour, I Love My Hair and The Brother’s Size. Aya is the co-creator of Hayti’s Historic Hayti Walking Tour: Fayetteville Street.