Lisa Feder, the organiser of the workshop, is an American anthropologist who has worked with griots for over 20 years. In her workshops, Lisa guides us in opening ourselves to the positive psychological benefits of learning this traditional instrument with a griot teacher like Famoro and Kanazoe. 

Kanazoe Diabate leads this balafon workshop with rhythms from the Manding people on the diatonic balafon. He also specializes in the pentatonic melodies from his cultural group, the Semla people from Tolonso, Burkina Faso. 

Famoro Dioubaté is special guest teacher this year. Hailing from Guinea-Conakry and based in New York, Famoro has safeguarded the traditional style of his grandfather, El Hadj Djeli Sory Dioubaté.  Through teaching balafon, he helps students find their inner peace and mental agility. 

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Participants will start each day, listening quietly to the music from these two masters. Then, Kanazoe will lead the intermediate and advanced players in two hours of intensive balafon class while Famoro works with the beginner-intermediate level players. Later, Famoro works with the advanced students. 

We pause for lunch and free time for several hours. Take a walk, visit the local swimming pool, or take it easy at our gîte, our home for the week. For the balafon ambitious, both teachers will be available for private and small group lessons - particularly for the advanced players who want to maximize their learning experience. 

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Later in the afternoon, we re-group with our respective teachers to practice what we learned earlier that day as an ensemble.

The practice session will lead into the Musical Cocktail Hour when balafon enthusiasts can continue playing. Tired of the balafon? You can play other instruments like the doundouns, djembes, bells, and if you bring them: bass, flute, guitar, etc. It's also a chance to dance, listen, paint, and be free!