Kobiana Nakigan is available for performances and workshops in the traditional music and dance of Senegal, West Africa. Kobiana has taught classes for all ages and skill levels in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, and New Mexico. He has held three artist-in-residency positions, and has done numerous workshops in schools, senior centers, and other community organizations.

A typical workshop would entail dance instruction, introduction to the drum (how it is made, its various sounds, and its origin), and a brief description of life in the villages of Southern Senegal. Students are encouraged to ask any questions they have about the dancing, the drumming, or any other aspects of life in Senegal. A series of workshops would culminate in a performance, where the students share the dance they have learned with their family and friends!

Kobiana can also bring a company of dancers to any event for a very special performance of high-energy, exuberant dancing and dazzling drumming. The costumes of bright colors, beads, and shells make for a beautiful visual experience. Kobiana can also bring his traditional Casamance spirit-mask, the Coumpo. Made from strips of bark or raffia, this spirit protects children and prepares them for their initiation into adulthood.

For more information, please email marylaniel@hotmail.com