Join BloomBars as we say Bon Voyage to our BloomBars Ambassador, friend, and supporter Hope Leigh Rollins. Hope’s moving to LA and we will miss her and her beautiful music dearly.

Ms. Ally Way will also help send Hope off in the right style, so please come to BloomBars for amazing local music.

• Date: TONIGHT! Sunday, August 29
• Time: 8:30 – 10:30 pm
• Donation: $10
• RSVP on Facebook!

About Hope Leigh Rollins:

Hope is a local singer songwriter who is an alumni of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and American University, But before all of that, when she was four years old, Hope Leigh became a performer. Attending an arts preschool, she insisted on giving nightly violin and recorder concerts on the stage in her home [ to her it was stage, to the masses it was a fireplace ]. 2 decades later she was still playing on stages, but this …time, they were real. With her debut album ” Hey Mom, Look What I Can Do” which was released on Valentines day of this year, Hope is moving to Los Angeles at the end of the summer to pursue a career in music full time. Hope Leigh is a fresh voice for the times. Her tunes flirt with acoustic indie and pop and stand on a foundation of classical training . Her powerful voice is filled with emotion, and gives the listener a new take on a wide range of genres , making contemporary covers her own and delivering her original music with truth and charm.

About Ally Way:

Ally Way is a 2009 DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Young Artist Grant Award winner and CEO of AK Way Publishing and Florals and Foxtails Entertainment. She has performed around the world in several different genres and languages. Ally Way writes, records and produces all of her own material and encourages other artist to do the same. Music is Ally’s full time profession and had dedicated her academic career to such also. She attended University of Maryland, College Park, where she studied voice and music education with Carmen Balthrop and Francois Loup. Ally is a pianist, guitarist and poet. She is in the process of publishing two books: “Two Over Twenty” and “Power Affirmations for Artist”.

Announcements and upcoming events for this weekend at BloomBars!

• No Yoga or Pilates this weekend, while the instructor is traveling.
• Capoeira Class: Contra-Mestre Bomba returns from vacation! Class is at 11:00 am on Saturdays. All levels welcome!
• Learn the Djembe: African drumming class & drum circle, Sunday at 1:00 pm.
• Seed the Sound: Artist in Bloom Terrence Cunningham welcomes Xavier O’Connor to our weekly live music session, nurturing artists from diverse genres.

Sunday, August 15th at 8:30 pm

All the way from Florida, BloomBars is welcoming Xavier O’Connor to Seed the Sound this Sunday night. It’s not every day a musician will travel from the tropical beaches of South Florida up to DC just for a performance, so we are honored to share his music with our community!

Xavier O’Connor is a musician’s musician and is no stranger to being on stage. Born and raised in South Florida, he grew up singing in church. Xavier formed an independent record label in 2006 which released his debut contemporary Christian album entitled, The Pilgrimage.

Xavier’s music has taken him far beyond South Florida to various parts of the US, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, and in 2009 to Paris, where he headlined the first annual Gospel Music Festival in Villepinte.

Currently, he enjoys performing R&B and Soul music with his band while continuing to experiment with his own brand of contemporary gospel music, infused with Latin and Jazz while working on his sophomore solo album, coming in 2010.

Xavier & Artist in Bloom Terrence Cunningham will grace the BloomBars stage together this Sunday!

• Date: Sunday, August 15th, 2010
• Time: 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
• Donation: $10
• RSVP on Facebook
• Preview Xavier’s Music Online

Sunday at 8:30 pm!

This week, BloomBars is featuring Kiernan McMullan for our weekly Seed the Sound live music session. Kiernan & Artist in Bloom Terrence Cunningham will be wrapping up a busy weekend here at BloomBars.

About Kiernan McMullan

To call Kiernan McMullan a singer/songwriter really wouldn’t give you an idea of what his music sounds like or where his influences lie. His music spans from acoustic, jazz, and rock all the way to hip-hop, electro, and funk.

Such varied influences probably stem from constantly being on the move and changing his surroundings. Kiernan was born in Hong Kong 1986 and in the last 21 years has called America, Australia, UK and Ireland home at some point. The majority of his childhood was spent in Boston which is evident in his music with a lot of influence coming from the songwriter scene in the states.

The term singer-songwriter is run into the ground. I suppose it makes you think of a soppy troubadour with a broken heart or just reminds you of every open mic you’ve had to sit through. Well I guess as general a term as it is, Kiernan McMullan is a singer-songwriter. However when you listen to his debut record “Perfect People Are Boring” (111 records) it is not long before you realise there are songs on this record that reach out towards electro and spoken word as well as funk, rock, pop, jazz and roots music.

RSVP on Facebook

About Seed the Sound:

Continuing in the BloomBars’ tradition to nurture the growth of artists who use their gift to inspire service, build community, and establish meaningful human connections, Seed the Sound Sunday features musicians from diverse genres and is hosted by Artist in Bloom Terrence Cunningham.

At 8:30 pm tonight, BloomBars is proud to welcome Jaybird to Seed the Sound! Beat the heat with a cool, refreshing glass of live music in a relaxed & welcoming atmosphere.

About Jaybird:

Jaybird is a lyrical folk duo consisting of brothers Peter and Jacob Rosati. Influences include Damien Rice, Iron and Wine, Bon Iver, Fionn Regan, Sufjan Stevens, The Avett Brothers, The Dodos, and Bowerbirds.

The history of Jaybird is one that has created songs around campfires and silenced warm coffee shops. Peter Rosati started playing guitar at the same time that his Brother Jacob started drums. “It came naturally,” Jacob says. “But we never made a band out of our playing; just showed each other what we were writing at the time.”

Their music went on this way through years of practicing and writing. The turning point came when Jacob joined Peter’s band to replace the old drummer. They started to write together and little did they know that Jaybird was beginning to take shape.

The future of Jaybird is not planned out; there are no set goals. For Peter and Jacob Rosati Jaybird is something they could not do without.

“I don’t how far this will take us, but I do know it won’t stop unless we let it. Jake and I have been playing together since I had a guitar; there is too much behind Jaybird, too much of a connection, too much history, too many experiences, for an end to be seen. The words we put together are purposeful. And personal. I get chills in my toes when we play…it’s beautiful.”

To this day Jaybird continues to be about what it started as: growing, learning, and remembering.

• Like Jaybird on Facebook

Preview Jaybird’s music below: “Cheek Colored Worm”

About Seed the Sound:

Continuing in the BloomBars’ tradition to nurture the growth of artists who use their gift to inspire service, build community, and establish meaningful human connections, Seed the Sound Sunday features musicians from diverse genres and is hosted by Artist in Bloom Terrence Cunningham.

Every week, we send out an update to our wonderfully supportive community.

Inside, you’ll find advance notice of upcoming events, additions to our BloomBars resident fellows, personal notes from artists, our latest videos, art and music news from around the world, and more about how BloomBars is growing in our neighborhoods.

If you’ve written down your email address while visiting BloomBars, chances are you already get the email – so keep an eye out!

To automatically receive this newsletter in your email inbox, please subscribe here!

Dear Friend of BloomBars, This past year as a resident artist at BloomBars has been an invaluable experience. I have been privileged to entertain, meet, fellowship, and learn from so many different types of audiences. What I admire most about BloomBars is the family atmosphere. Whether there were 5 or 50 in the room, I’ve always felt at home and appreciated with warm applause and beautiful smiles. As an artist, I feed off of the energy of the audience. Contrary to popular belief, it is we, the artists, who are apprehensive, self-conscious, unsure, and a little timid, though the audience may never realize it. The great thing about BloomBars is the audience’s eagerness and desire for great art which makes performing and sharing easy. Never have I felt so secure in my gifts than at BloomBars. I recall when we had the blizzard which amassed nearly 4ft of snow, yet we still met at BloomBars, and there was an audience. What other artist space has such a positive stamp in the community? While at BloomBars, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to work with many local, national, and international singers, poets, artists, actors, and musicians. There are far too many to name, so to avoid leaving anyone out, I won’t. Nevertheless, I was given the opportunity to tour in South Africa because of a meeting of the artistic minds with a fellow artist and I, who I met at BloomBars — an experience I will never forget. BloomBars has made it possible for me to be a motivational speaker to our city’s youth, encouraging the young people to follow their heart’s truest desire, and to know that all is possible. I always say, “If you can perform acoustic music well, you are a true artist.” During my year residency at BloomBars, every Sunday night, I performed with just a Fender Rhodes (electric piano.) It was just me, my instrument, a mic, and the audience. I am so very indebted to BloomBars and the BloomBars family for giving me the chance to mold, sharpen, build, and work toward perfecting my craft. It is easier to perform in front of thousands than it is to perform in front of a few. No lasers, no dancers, no flashing lights, just the audience and me. There are too many things to say about this artistic sanctuary called BloomBars. To John Chambers, every volunteer, every artist, and every supporter, I say I love you and thank you for giving this artist the platform to share his heart’s desire, to share music that changes lives. My dear friends, I pray great health, wealth, and wellness to you all. Yours artistically, Terrence Cunningham Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow :: this week at BloomBars :: Yoga: Saturdays at 10:00 am Tap Dancing: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm Pilates: Sundays at 10:00 am Poetry in the Morning: Mondays at 7:30 am View our Complete Calendar online and sync it with yours using Google Calendar! BloomScreening: “Harlem’s Mart 125″ Friday, July 9th at 7:00 pm Harlem’s Mart 125: the American Dream is a documentary film about the history of Mart 125 and how it correlates to the “revitalization” of 125th street, Harlem’s main commercial sector. This film takes its viewers on a historical journey which depicts the economic transition of 125th street from the late 1960′s to present day. Mart 125 is used as a metaphor which examines the plague of perplexities that surround this unique black community and its relationship with the plans of urban renewal from a commercial standpoint. Harlem’s Mart 125: the American Dream portrays a microcosmic analysis of the displacement of Black American communities today. This is a story that takes an introspective look at the changing face of the most well-known African American neighborhood and a complexity of issues that surround this community in peril! Preview the movie at Harlem’s Mart 125 documentary online. Date: Friday, July 9th, 2010 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Suggested Donation: $5 to keep the lights on at BloomBars RSVP on Facebook Seed the Sound: Anniversary Celebration Terrence Cunningham Completes 1 year at BloomBars This Sunday, come to Seed the Sound to celebrate artist-in-bloom resident fellow Terrence Cunningham’s 1 year anniversary. Terrence has been cranking it out every single week the past year, developing his unique alternative soul songs along the way. His progress has been amazing. Join us next week to take it up a notch, celebrate the past year, and hear from some special guests, including Christylez Bacon. Date: Sunday, July 11th, 2010 Time: 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm Suggested Donation: $5 RSVP on Facebook Big Poppa E visits The Garden this Monday! The Garden: Open Mic – Monday at 9:00 pm! Featuring Big Poppa E and Shahid Buttar BIG POPPA E is a three-time veteran of HBO’s award-winning “Def Poetry” showcase and a National Poetry Slam Champion from Austin, Texas. His live performances combine performance-based poetry, stand-up comedy, and dramatic monologue into high-energy rants about relationships, pop culture, and hot-button issues of the day BPE’s work often covers areas of gender, sexuality and masculinity with a playful irreverence, and this focus has led to a growing following amongst high school and college students, especially those active in speech competitions. SHAHID BUTTAR is a civil rights lawyer, hip-hop & electronica MC, independent columnist, non-profit leader, grassroots community organizer, singer, dancer, and poet. His debut CD, Get Outta Your Chair, was released in 2008 and features music from the funk, blues, hip-hop, house, drum ‘n bass, and South Asian fusion traditions, including Bumpin’ in My SUV and the Baghdad Blues. Date: Monday, July 12th, 2010 Time: 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm Suggested Donation: $5 RSVP on Facebook Learn to Salsa! Classes Every Wednesday! Every Wednesday from 7:30 pm – 8:30pm, come enjoy one of the most entertaining and social styles of dancing. Rueda de Casino salsa was born in Cuba, transferred through Miami and is now growing everywhere. Unlike other dances, rueda is danced both as a group to universal calls and in couples allowing for various levels of interaction among the dancers. Classes start at the basic level allowing everyone, including those without experience, the chance to learn and enjoy this art form. As the class progresses, intermediate, advanced, and master level moves will be introduced. Emphasis is placed on leading, following, learning calls and hand signals, and simply enjoying oneself. Date: Wednesdays, starting July 7th, 2010 Time 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Suggested Donation: $10 to support BloomBars and the instructor Learn More :: bloom news :: BloomBars proudly donates the first book, “Olu’s Dream” to the book drive. Now it’s your turn! Let Your Old Books Bloom Anew! BloomBars Joins “Books for the Block” Drive In partnership with Mahogany Books, BloomBars is calling for book donations from area residents to increase access to literature and foster a love of books among local youth. Friends of BloomBars are urged to clean off their shelves and donate new and gently used children’s books at the BloomBars drop box in the second floor gallery. Book categories include fiction, board books, educational workbooks, biography, science, math, and art. For supporters unable to drop off books at the area sites, they can simply log on to Mahogany Books for more details about donate online donations. BloomBars proudly donates the first book, “Olu’s Dream” to the book drive. Now it’s your turn! Visit Mahogany Books for more info! Check the menu and get directions here. Don’t Forget Your BloomBucks! BloomBars is proud to announce a partnership with Columbia Heights’ newest restaurant, Social, at 14th & Meridian, NW. Recognizing all that we’re doing to support the growth of artists and the arts in DC, Social is teaming up with BloomBars to support your bloom, our bloom, and their bloom: Hand a BloomBucks card (available at BloomBars) to your server at Social, and 15% of your bill comes back to support programs at BloomBars. It’s that easy! Learn more about Social’s involvement in the community arts scene, and their amazing food and drinks. Columbia Heights Arts Survey This past week, our BloomBars interns went out on the street to survey the people of Columbia Heights. “What art programs would you like to see in Columbia Heights?” While most people usually avoid street canvassers, when citizens heard our one question survey, many turned around and immediately answered our question. Most of the people we asked seemed concerned with the lack of artistic outlets in the city, especially for children. While most people we questioned had more than one suggestion, the majority of people asked wanted more theatre: anything from comedy to drama. Interviewees also wanted more activities that included the family, and allowed them to express their creativity together. Learn more about our Survey and answer our online poll at the BloomBars website. What arts programs would you like to see in Columbia Heights? See what people said! :: bloom for thought :: Shops like these in the UK are becoming community spaces for residents to connect over art and hobbies. Colonizing England’s Vacant Shops The “Empty Shops Network” seeks to fill vacant buildings, left due to economic hardship and increased competition from “big box” stores, with community art spaces. In the US, desolate buildings stand alone, shells of the thriving local businesses that they once were. In some cases, developers never saw the problems coming, and brand-new strip malls and parking lots are standing vacant. You can see this to some extent in the BloomBars neighborhood of Columbia Heights: How long have some stores in the DCUSA mall been “For Lease” with no signs of progress? In the UK, one man is taking action to build a stronger community while making use of vacant space. From the GOOD article, “Colonizing England’s Vacant Shops:” “For Dan Thompson, helping to get empty shops back into action has become a full-time job. The founder of the Empty Shops Network, Thompson says that the United Kingdom has seen a surge in pop-up shops, galleries, and community spaces that tap into a wider national mood: ‘There’s a DIY movement going on with more and more people setting up their own events … you get knitting groups setting up in pubs and cafes, [gardening] groups, people are really engaging with their local community. It’s a huge shift in the national culture.’ At the moment, such projects are usually temporary and are run for the love, not the money. But Thompson wants to go further than this: ‘We are aiming for a degree of financial sustainability. I’ve always believed in fair trade for artists,’ he says. ‘In the U.K. lots of people still want artists to do things for free, for exposure. You wouldn’t ask a plumber to work for free. You have to pay artists and creative people.’” BloomBars was created from a vacant building, and although it can’t take credit for reinvigorating Columbia Heights, we like to think it helps make the community stronger through the arts – much like the Empty Shops Network does for towns in the UK. Read more about the Empty Shops Network on GOOD. :: blooming soon :: Next Session of Cipherstock is July 15th! Sleeper Cell Productions and BloomBars present: Cipherstock, a monthly fusion of the cipher and the jam session. Every Third Thursday at 8:30 pm: Next session is July 15th Suggested donation: $7 For three hours, musicians can set up on BloomBar’s stage and jam. Backline (drum kit, percussion, amps) is provided so all you have to bring is your instrument of choice! A microphone is provided for emcees to freestyle. There’s no competition, no pressure, and no fee to participate– Just musicians of all kinds engaging in free-form creative expression. This event is open to the general public to watch and participate! Because BloomBars is a community stage, the only strict rule we must follow is: No Swearing! This is an all ages event so please keep that in mind. RSVP on Facebook! Massage by Mozart Kicks Off on Tuesday, August 3rd! Live Classical Musicians + Licensed Massage Therapists = Bliss. Our first “Massage by Mozart” session has been rescheduled for August. Stop by BloomBars to release your built-up stress on the first Tuesday of every month. Relax as a licensed massage therapist works out those knots in brief seated massage sessions. Let the soothing sounds of classical music, played by esteemed classical musicians from the Capital City Symphony, melt away your remaining troubles. Kim Washington is leading the (seated) massage therapy team. When she’s not hosting “Soul Conversations” on WPFW-FM or “Joe’s Place” on WHUR-FM, she healing people through her gift of massage therapy. Kimberly Washington is a dynamic therapist who incorporates a balanced approach to bodywork, giving a massage that leaves her clients feeling relaxed as well as renewed. We’re looking for more therapists with seated massage tables, and talented classical musicians. If you, or someone you know, is interested, please contact us at: info@BloomBars.com Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 Time: 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Suggested Donation: Reasonable prices depending on length of massage :: BloomBars’ buzz online :: Bloom in Your Room We know that you can’t spend all your life at BloomBars (although it seems like some of you try!). Tune into BloomTV and experience our growth and creativity This Week on BloomTV: BloomBars Meets Karma Kitchen You’ve heard us make the Karma Kitchen pitch if you’ve been to BloomBars. It’s a really amazing place that shares our values. Our most memorable moment happened last September on Adams Morgan Day. There was a big event at BloomBars on Saturday night. We gathered performers and friends to introduce them to the love at Karma Kitchen. We were so moved by the meal and the environment, Shane W. Evans, who was visiting from Kansas City, offered to play a song he recently wrote on top of a mountain in Botswana. It was a song that would be the perfect serenade for our new family at Karma Kitchen, especially since the group was mostly musicians from all over the country. This was the first time they had all come together and performed. It was a moment that will be frozen in time forever. See how BloomBars and Karma Kitchen are connecting, in the Community Profile presentation below! BloomBars is teaming up with Karma Kitchen – click to view the interactive presentation! We hear you! More & more positive support for BloomBars on the web. You guys are great! Keep up the chatter, and let us know what you think of BloomBars on Twitter and Facebook. Facebook Comment of the Week: Saffron Holiday: Thanks DC! And a big thank you to BloomBars. BloomBars is uniting communities through the arts and is inspiring communities to strive for progress. Please consider supporting the movement. Twitter Comments of the Week: @leilaadu: Hey hey-I’m at @BloomBars: in DC in the green room (well, it is more a kind of mustard colour) about to rock at 8.30pm & 10pm with @Muthawit @Sim1OnThaRun: “@BloomBars: for the first time (so embarrassed! Sorry, neighbor.) w/ @Carolyn_Malachi and @hollybassdc this space ROCKS. Building here soon!” @Pagesofle At The Garden Open Mic in @BloomBars 3222 11th st NW DC featuring wit DC Team. @SheedEmilio 3222 11th st NW. @BloomBars is where I am! Come support the DC slam team! @13ofNazareth in The Garden @BloomBars for feature w/ DC Slam Team Image courtesy flickr user blinkofaneye Show Us Your BloomBars! We want your photos… We know that you’re capturing some of the magic that happens here… Share the love! Add photos to our Flickr photo pool, and we will choose the best to hang on the walls of BloomBars. The top 25 photos each month will also be featured on our website. Join the BloomBars photo pool! Click “join this group” on our flickr page. :: discovering BloomBars :: Stay up to date on all BloomBars events There’s so much going on at BloomBars! We hope that you can find the time to stop in and say hello. Wanna schedule a visit? Here are some useful links for you to bookmark: Recurring classes: our Garden of the Arts page Upcoming special events: our Facebook events page Listing of ALL events: our Google Calendar :: about BloomBars :: BloomBars is a not for profit arts organization that seeks to unite and inspire communities through the arts while nurturing artists committed to serving the community. With events, classes and programming around music, visual arts, film, dance, theater, and more, our goal is personal and collective growth. We strive to create a larger platform for grassroots artists to have their voices heard across the globe. BloomBars redefines the traditional perception of a bar: we don’t serve alcohol and encourage all ages to attend our events, to create more meaningful human connections. Learn more about BloomBars’ mission and vision. Got an idea for BloomBars? Want to get involved? Email us: info@bloombars.com. BloomBars runs on support from friends like you! BloomBars proudly supports the following local organizations: ©2010 BloomBars | 3222 11th St NW | Washington, DC 20001

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In honor of America’s Birthday, Seed the Sound is taking the night off!

Instead please come to BloomBars NEXT Sunday (July 11th) at 8:30 pm, when we celebrate Terrence Cunningham’s 1 year anniversary as a Resident Artist-in-Bloom. Terrence has been cranking it out every single week the past year, developing his unique alternative soul songs along the way.

Join us next week to take it up a notch, celebrate the past year, and hear from some special guests!

• Listen to Terrence Cunningham’s music on MySpace
• Follow Terrence on Twitter
• Read more about Terrence and his music

*Seed the Sound Sundays w/Terrence Cunningham*

The buzz is out. This is the smartest thing you can do in Washington, DC on a Sunday night, and the most fun. We encourage you to bring people who you love, or people you think need a little love. Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow Terrence Cunningham has been holding it down for seven months, and HASN’T MISSED A SUNDAY. Come see what a FULL BLOOM looks like. Another bit of exciting news, Terrence has submitted his song, “Champion,” to be the official song of the World Cup in South Africa. This was the result of his trip there last month. We believe World Cup decision makers will see the light in this beautiful song and share it with the world. $5-10 suggested donation.

BloomBars Presents Gary Prince “Leaves”

Guitarist Gary Prince is an active performer and educator in the Washington, DC area specializing in Jazz and Improvised music across genres. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Gary holds degrees in both Jazz & Contemplative Studies and Psychology. Both a performer and an educator, Gary currently holds faculty positions at the Levine School of Music, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, and the Sheridan School, where he teaches contemporary electric and acoustic guitar styles in private lesson, class, and workshop formats. As a performer, Gary has played with groups and on recordings in styles ranging from electric blues to acoustic folk to free improvisation, and is an active composer of original material for solo guitar and small ensemble. As a member of the Creative Arts Orchestra at the University of Michigan, Gary has played with artists including Pauline Oliveros, Oliver Lake, Steve Coleman, Henry Grimes, Arthur Blythe, Nichole Mitchell, and others. An active member of the International Society for Improvising Musicians (ISIM), Gary has been a performer at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 ISIM conferences, leading his own ensemble, the KGMC Quartet, at the 2008 conference in Denver. Currently Gary can be heard in DC playing with groups including the Yamomanem Jazz Band, and the Sarah Fridrich Band. A native to the Washington, DC metro area, Gary has been living in the city since September, 2008.

Most recently, Gary has planted a seed at BloomBars and an Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow. Visit: www.myspace.com/garyprince

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8GkkPhl9U4

BloomBars Presents Jabari Exum & Amadou Kouate

Jabari Exum
huemanprophets@gmail.com

Steeped in the dynamism and social consciousness of hip-hops golden age and his own familys African-centered spiritual and cultural perspectives, Jabari Exum realized his mission of bringing forth balance and understanding to the lives of others through music and poetry at an early age. Jabari is a drummer, rapper, producer, poet, keyboardist, percussionist and dancer. He is also a founding member of the duo – Hueman Prophets, a Washington, DC-based hip-hop duo known for their dynamic and inspiring live performances. Jabari is a born performer and thinker.

Amadou Kouyate
soulsrcher@hotmail.com

Amadou is the first Diali born in the Americas. As heir to the Kouyate legacy, Amadous life revolves around the oral tradition of transmitting and safeguarding the history of his clan through music and the arts. He continues to travel around the world performing with various groups dazzling audiences with his speed, grace and power. He is an avid and professional Kora player and is also proficient in all types of other traditional West African instruments such as Kutiro, Sabar, Djembe, Balafon, Krin and Tama. He is a student at Howard University and teaches Djembe at several other universities in the DC area. Amadou is an official dedicated aficionado of all music.