African Sounds of Onye Onyemaechi

Performance Biography

The African Sounds of Onye Onyemaechi

The echoes of the village drums penetrate the dancer's psyche and operate in profound ways — familiar and mysterious. When people drum, laugh and cry, sing and dance together, they heal and feel joyful. Optimism is renewed!

— Onye Onyemaechi

A virtuoso of African rhythm music, Onye Onyemaechi, renowned master percussionist and performer, brings an exhilarating and powerful experience to audiences across the U.S. and Europe. An indigenous son of Africa, Onye performs original compositions that blend traditional rhythms with contemporary music influences. Performing both solo and in ensemble, Onye's artistry creates electrifying musical feasts and collaborations that celebrate diversity. He is currently the leader and manager of Onye and the Messengers.

Onye brings the joy and soul of African culture to celebrations and the wisdom of his teachings to his audiences. Onye is a celebrated world percussionist, composer, and producer, and has recorded music for interactive video games called Endorfun and numerous CDs. He has been featured on NBC TV affiliate program Coming Together and the video and film documentaries: Of Sound & Healing, Search for Spirituality, and the Wisdom Channel.

Performing in the U.S. since the early 1980s, Onye has been featured in Billboard Magazine as musical director of the 'O Band,' Artistic Director and Business Manager of his own performance company, The Igbote Ethnic Ensemble, and has performed on numerous radio shows nationwide. His major performances include the original First Night Boston, Cambridge Arts Festival, Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, Statue of Liberty Bicentennial Celebration (with his Igbote Dance Ensemble), Harvard University Cultural Rhythms concert, the de Young Museum in California, Uetliberg Museum Arts Festival in Switzerland, and Stadttheater Neuburg A.D. Donau, Germany.

His sold-out concert at Humboldt State University Performance Festival electrified the John Van Duzer Theater with a celebration of the human spirit. He performed a commissioned music and dance ceremony at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, and was a featured performer and choreographer of the Oakland Festival of the Arts, Bay Area Dance Series, and Forest Meadows World Music and Dance Series.

Onye Onyemaechi is a presenter at school assemblies as a speaker and performer to promote the joy of learning, self-empowerment, and students' pursuit of academic excellence. His message of village wisdom fosters respect, tolerance, and kindness, and profoundly resonates among teachers, administrators, and parents. He is currently on the roster of the League of Volunteers of Newark Arts Council, El Dorado Arts Council, and the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz.

While living in Cambridge in the early 1980s, he presented a monthly night of ethnic music and dance. All nationalities were invited, and the evening would end with Onye drumming while hundreds of people — young and old — danced and drummed along. Some of those who experienced these events studied with Onye and went on to establish drum circles around the country. Onye is recognized as a pioneer in using drum and ethnic dance to bring communities together.

He has since taught at prestigious institutions, businesses, and conferences including Harvard University, Holy Names College/ICCS, Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, International Conference on Business and Consciousness, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Boston College, Sonoma State University, California Academy of Sciences, College of Marin, Kaiser Medical Center, Sutter Health Center, California Institute of Integral Studies, and over 1,000 schools. As an adjunct faculty member, he founded the Drum and Dance Society at Sonoma State University.

Onye offers his CDs for sale: Nnandi, Sophia, Primal Adventures, African Chocolate, and African Sunset.