African drumming workshops in Devon,Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset UK, African drumming for schools in Devon UK, African drum workshops for schools in England

My name is Denis Kigongo (pronounced as Chigongo). I have been called all sorts of things over the years by people who cannot pronounce my name correctly so do not worry if you cant say it. As you will possibly know by now, in Africa most names have a meaning, normally linked to an event, season or at times places where individuals are born.

My name in the Baganda culture means elder brother to twins. I did have a different name before my twin sisters were born but it had to be changed because twins in my culture are special people with special power. My parents, brothers and sisters, all have names linked to the special presence of twins in our family.

English is my third language, my Dad speaks a different language and so does my Mum because they both came from different tribes and I had to learn both languages as a child. I therefore hope you will be able to make sense of what I say in the following pages.

I learnt the drumming and storiesand craft making skils that I share as achild growing up in Uganda. I am from

Busu , a small village on the showers of lake Victoria, near the source of the River Nile.

I grew up in a cultrally rich environment. We spent much of our spare time playing drums and learning to make traditional crafts. In the evenings after supper we sat by the fire in our grass thatched kitchen listening to stories. My parents told us stories they had learned from their parents-who had learned them from their parents.

I trained as a teacher in Uganda and as a youth worker in the UK. I now act as a spokes man for Africa and for Uganda in particular.

I am a registered artist with Devon Arts in Schools Initiative (DAISI). DAISI arranges arts education projects for schools in Devon and aims to develop the creativity of young people by enriching their experience of the arts and works closely with teachers, governors and artists to strengthen the relationship between the arts and education sectors.

My workshops can also be booked through

click here for DAISI

.

We are part of the National Grid for Learning of England.

click here for NGFL http:

I am also part of the decibel program run by Arts Council England, South West

click here for Arts council