Join Onye Onyemaechi, master African drummer and dancer, as he recreates a traditional African village celebration with costumes, drumming, dance and audience participation.

Since the dawn of human civilization, drum and dance have played a central role in ritual ceremonies and building community awareness. In Africa, drum and dance are the spiritual heart of the community: rhythm and dance awaken the soul and promote a deep bond between us and all beings.

Onye’s message calls for us to expand our conscious understanding of ourselves and other cultures and to examine our roots and values. He blends the qualities of compassion, humor and respect with an infectuous joy and exuberence..

This is truly a peak experience for adults and children.

African Village Celebration is a strong, positive experience for all kinds of groups. Special programs are offered for schools, camps, congregations, hospitals, stress relief programs, and rehabilitation, alcohol and drug recovery centers. This program is popular with cultural diversity, ethnic music and African-American History Month events.

Onye can arrange this experience to fit into your larger program, retreat or festival.

Drumming, Music and Dance
"When people drum, laugh and cry, sing, and dance together, they heal and feel joyful and optimistic." - Onye Onyemaechi
Community Drumming Group
Village Rhythms offers the once-in-a-lifetime experience of an evening monthly drumming group. The hypnotic pulse of drumming moves dancers and drummers into altered states of consciousness to celebrate life and provides space for creativity and self-expression. The focus is on "transdrumming" as an avenue for individual spiritual deepening, healing and collective community building.
Onye was raised in Nigeria, where he experienced the rituals, rites of passage and healing traditions of his family and village. While receiving his advanced education in the United States, he began synthesizing the best characteristics of the African and American cultures–both musically and spiritually–to create the experience of the community drumming group.

For the community drumming group, you need a conga, African drum, or hand-held Indian drum to participate.

Other drumming-related services offered by Onye include:

• Drumming and centering intention in the workplace to effect personal growth, team building and stress release.
• Drumming gatherings and events tailored to meet your group, community or organizational needs.
• Group classes and private lessons.
• Personalized rituals and celebrations for life milestones: birthing, coming of age, weddings, memorials.
• Musical performances.

Indigenous Music Therapy
Since the dawn of time people have used ancient art forms of sound, music, rhythms, art, movement and dances as expressive and therapeutic tools in maintaining a healthy psyche for spiritual living. These methods of health and healing practices help to induce altered states of consciousness that help improve mental, physical and emotional stability and create peace and harmony in our world. Indigenous Music Therapy methods can be used alone or in conjunction with other modalities or healing services.

The benefits of Indigenous Music Therapy are:
• Promotes health
• Manages stress
• Releases pain and tension
• Promotes physical rehabilitation
• Enhances memory
• Improves clarity and concentration

Healing Dance and Movement
This workshop celebrates the art forms of movement and dance to music and drumming that use the body to achieve physical, mental and emotional states of health and freedom. Participants learn to transcend fear and challenges in a joyful union of body and soul. Healing Dance and Movement methods can be used alone or in conjunction with other modalities or therapeutic and healing services.

“Onye Onyemaechi is a remarkable talent. The spirit and vitality in his music bask the listener in a joyful glow.”
Beth Maurence, KBAC FM

With his drum full of West-African culture, Onye brought back to us the feeling of community." Nancy C. Manion, The Discovery Center School

© 2000 Onye Onyemaechi. All Rights Reserved.