The young people of the refugee community in Leigh have worked hard this year. Under the experienced and charismatic teaching of Sidiki Dembele, they have worked their way up from having no drumming experience at all, to performing before audiences hand picked from the Local Auithority and winning accredited certificates in African Drumming.

The group, named Kamosi, which means Friend in Slovakian, meet once a week in a forum run by the Youth Service to address the needs and cultural issues of young people whose families are newcomers to the Wigan area.  They face language, culture and religious difference, which can be socially isolating and have an impact upon the self esteem of young people struggling to find their feet and access education with English as a foreign language.

The young men and women of Kamosi have enthusiaistically embraced the project, learning and developing new musical skills, alongside performance techniques.

This week their hard work was rewarded when a group of ten young people from Kamosi were presented with AQA nationally accreited awards in African Drumming in a presentation evening at Sacred Hearts School in Leigh.

The evening was enhanced by a series of performances from the young people, in song, dance and drumming, culminating in an awe inspiring, explosive  performance by Sidiki.

Well Done Guys, We Are Very Proud of YOU!