Bio

Denifari UK

In 1999 Sidiki Dembele founded the now acclaimed Denifari performance and teaching group in one of the poorest districts of his home city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Denifari literally means a new way for youth - and that was how the story began. Growing up in a slum area flanking the great commercial capital of Cote d'Ivoire, Sidiki was all too aware of the social and economic restrictions under which the community struggled to survive; and of the temptations faced by local boys and young men whose families strove against all the odds to provide for under conditions most of us here in Europe can only guess at.

Poorly educated, sometimes malnourished and dressed in worn tee shirts and jeans, the group moved into a rented shack, provided by Sidiki, where they lived, learned and prepared for the future. Now those original members are amongst the most acclaimed musicians in Cote d'Ivoire, playing at community and cultural events and concerts throughout West Africa, and continuing to manage the day to day affairs of the school on Sidiki's behalf. Despite now living in England, Sidiki remains the lynchpin of the organisation and no decisions are made without his input. Denifari is still at the heart of Sidiki's life and endeavour. You can see the guys perform if you check out the video gallery here on the website!

And now, Denifari is coming to the UK! Sidiki wants to offer young people here in the North West of England the same opportunity to learn and develop a self sufficient performance school. It will run alongside, but independently of Denifari Djembe, and will exist to meet the needs of young people in the community whose social circumstances may prevent them from otherwise engaging and particpating.

We have a number of young musicians who have worked with Sidiki over the past twelve months and who are showing great promise - we want them to take their talents out into the community, and appear at local events and festivals, as a non-profit making group.

We know that they will eventually become self-funding - maybe within five years - but for now they need all the help they can get.

We are looking for funding to provide new instruments and a local rehearsal venue in the Manchester or Salford area.

If you are, or you know anybody who is, in a position to talk to us about funding or any other support that these young people need to get started, please contact Sidiki by telephone on

07552521421

or by email at

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Denifari Djembe School

Born in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Cote d'Ivoire, Sidiki Dembele is the second son of a Griot family. The Griot tradition is one which has spanned centuries of civilisation in West Africa, and has been passed down through the generations, carrying with it an ancient culture of story-telling, communication and celebration.

In West African culture, the Griot family has traditionally been responsible for carrying news, folklore and diplomacy between villages, nomadic tribes, kings and warriors, using dance, music and song. Historically, the power of performance in this most ancient of civilisations has been echoed throughout the nations of the world; and perhaps the most evocative and emotive instrument in routing enemies, communicating with allies and rousing nations to unity is the drum.

Raised in a family whose generations have been steeped and driven by these traditions, from the age of fourteen Sidiki has played percussion instruments professionally and in particular the Djembe drum of West Africa, to herald and celebrate significant events in the life of his community in Abidjan. He has taught adults and children to play and shared his passion for music with them, his enthusiasm and dedication an intoxicating source of inspiration to those who meet him and who see him perform.

In 2007 Sidiki was the solo percussionist picked at a national level audition, from a sixty strong cohort of hopeful djembefolas from all over Cote d'Ivoire, who played their hearts out for a chance to play with some of the most talented performers from all over the continent in the concept circus show, Afrika!Afrika! Sidiki caught the eye of Georges Momboye, the celebrated lead choreographer, who called Sidiki the next day to invite him to start work in Germany.

Between 2007 and 2009 Sidiki toured mainland Europe, principally as the percussion lead musician of the orchestra with Afrika!Afrika!, but also for periods of time with Drumcafe, a London based company. The Director of the company in the UK, Brett Schlesinger, describes Sidiki as "One of the strongest soloists and most respected lead drummers in the UK at the moment".

Now Sidiki plans to bring his own individual teaching style to Britain in the shape of the Denifari Djembe company, with a particular goal. He aims to introduce the power and sheer exuberance of ethnic group percussion to young people from any background - those whose African roots can sometimes seem distant and ignored within a commmunity far removed from their heritage; those who would benefit from group music-making, with its physical and mental demands; those who, disengaged from formal education, may find renewed focus and challenge in an exciting and creative environment; or who are simply seeking an enriched experience of music and dance. The sense of community and belonging in this powerful, physical and emotive activity may prove particularly appealing to young people whose search for peer acceptance might otherwise lure them into the gang culture and anti-social behaviour highlighted all too often on Britain's streets and seized upon by the national and local media as evidence of a lost generation.

Recent projects include a six week run of workshops, developing the talents of a group of young people from the refugee community in Wigan, leading to a local performance and Sidiki is currently involved with a production anticipated in May 2011, set against the backdrop of Manchester's prestigious Royal Northern College of Music. Sidiki provides regular workshops in schools around the country, meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum, and focusing on diversity awareness amongst British schoolchildren and 6th Form students.

Denifari Djembe offers corporate workshops and performance, to companies seeking to build and develop team skills and identity, performing at venues such as the MEN Arena in Manchester, and is equally happy to provide one to one private tuition at any level.
Sidiki's performances over 2010 included guest appearances at a number of national festivals, including WOMAD 2010 and The Beatherder. He's been taking the Manchester drumming scene by storm, appearing as a guest artiste with well known percussion group, Tanante, and as a solo artiste in his own gigs throughout the city.

He is currently working on a new project with his band, DjembeKan, whose fusion of contemporary DJ style with ancient traditional instruments and rhythms sets preconceived notions of African music on their heads. Watch out for innovative tunes and breaks with guest artiste Baba Gale, a Guinean flautist whose faultless cadences and vocal whoops add an exciting dimension to the music.

Meanwhile, the Abidjan cohort of Denifari, founded by Sidiki at the tender age of sixteen, as a means of offering an alternative lifestyle to the impoverished youth of his community, continues to go from strength to strength. They are now recognised all over Cote d'Ivoire as a leading, performance based company, with drummers, balafonists, Ngoni players, singers and dancers who provide a wide range of entertainments throughout the country, enjoying widespread acclaim as a group of talented artistes trained and devloped by Sidiki himself.

"This is my greatest acheivement, and the one I am most proud of", says Sidiki. "One day I will take them everywhere to play - and you're going to love them!"

Contact us for performance, workshops, tours, events, festivals, corporate and private functions or lessons.

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