Culture, Heritage & Dancing Drums

Celebrating African heritage and creating connection

African culture and heritage are central to UAA’s identity. Through drumming, music, dance, performance, food, stories and community events, UAA creates opportunities for people to celebrate where they come from, share traditions and build understanding with the wider community.

Dancing Drums

The Dancing Drums group is participatory. People do not need previous musical experience: drums, shakers and other percussion instruments allow beginners, regular members and members of the public to join in together.

Funding from Music for All enabled UAA to buy more and better instruments, making it possible for up to around 40 people to take part rather than some people having to watch because there were not enough instruments.

At an Africa Day visit to Bridgewater Primary School, UAA worked with two Year 2 groups of around 45 children each. With the school’s shakers and UAA’s instruments, every child was able to take part.

The group is regularly invited to community events and other venues. UAA has also been invited to deliver a workplace drumming workshop and performance at Barclays Northampton, showing the appeal of the activity beyond UAA’s regular community sessions.