About this Event
African Arts Institute is proud to announce a new event: Africa and the World Arts Symposium, happening October 15-17 in Belleville, Ontario.
This concert is the culminating event of the symposium, and features are free community dinner alongside a performance by Amadou Kienou Folila and his group.
The event will also showcase local visual artists in an exhibition connected to the concert. With these artists, coupled with a lively dinner and exciting performance in the round, we hope to recreate the exciting and busy vibe of an African village.
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The affordable ticket price for this event is courtesy of funding from the City of Belleville, and the Government of Canada (Canada Arts Presentation Fund, and the Multicultural & Anti-Racism Program).
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Artist bio (English follows, below)
Amadou Kienou: Maître du Tambour & Griot
Biographie
Le maître du tambour Amadou Kienou est originaire de Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso, en Afrique de l'Ouest, qui faisait autrefois partie du vaste ancien empire mandingue. Descendant du peuple Dafin, Amadou a été initié en tant que djeli ou griot (historien oral), membre d’une longue lignée de griots dont le rôle est de préserver et de transmettre l’histoire, la culture et les valeurs de leur peuple. De nos jours, apportant le traditionnel au contemporain, Amadou ravit le public international avec son expression polyrythmique unique d'émotions et de souvenirs.
Le djembé est l’instrument principal d’Amadou. Comme il le décrit, “le djembé est plus qu'un instrument de musique; c'est une extension du musicien à travers laquelle il exprime sa vie, ses émotions.” La maîtrise du djembé exige toute une vie de discipline et de dévouement, ainsi que les conseils d’un maître de djembé, à condition, dans le cas d’Amadou, principalement par son père, le regretté Baba Kienou. Amadou joue plusieurs autres instruments traditionnels africains - les dunduns, le n'goni et le tama, sans oublier la guitare et la batterie occidentales.
En tant que djeli, musicien-compositeur, danseur, chorégraphe et instructeur, Amadou Kienou a été actif dans toute l'Amérique du Nord, l'Afrique, l'Europe, l'Asie, l'Inde et les Caraïbes. Il a joué et enregistré avec de nombreux grands artistes, dont Miriam Makeba, Manu Dibango, Angélique Kidjo, Salif Keita, Youssou N'dour et Kassav, et avec ses propres ensembles Fotéban et Djeli Sira (The Griot’s Path). En reconnaissance de son talent artistique, il a reçu de nombreux prix, dont celui du meilleur artiste de la scène africaine au Canada 2019, du meilleur artiste masculin de Radio Kilimandjaro en 2018 et de l'artiste masculin de l'année 2016, ambassadeur culturel du Burkina Faso au Canada. Amadou Kienou a été décoré chevalier de l’ordre du mérite des arts des, lettres et de la communication le 19 juin 2018 à Ottawa Canada.
Formellement reconnu comme un griot/maître du tambour dans son pays natal (et le seul au Canada), Amadou réside à Toronto depuis 2008, se produisant dans le monde entier et enseignant régulièrement des ateliers de danse et de batterie dans des écoles universitaires et lors de festivals à travers le pays. La maîtrise d’Amadou en anglais, en français, en allemand et dans la langue universelle du tambour lui permet d’atteindre un large public grâce à ses enseignements.
Amadou Kienou: Master Drummer & Griot
Biography
Master drummer Amadou Kienou hails from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa, once part of the vast ancient Mandingo Empire. A descendant of the Dafin people, Amadou was initiated as a djeli or griot (an oral historian), one of a long line of griots whose role is to preserve and transmit their people’s history, culture, and values. Nowadays, bringing the traditional to the contemporary, Amadou delights international audiences with his unique polyrhythmic expression of emotions and memories.
The djembe is Amadou’s principal instrument. As he describes it, “the djembe is more than a musical instrument; it is an extension of the musician through which he expresses his life, his emotions.” Mastery of the djembe requires a lifetime of discipline and dedication, and the guidance of a djembe master, provided, in Amadou’s case, primarily by his father, the late revered Baba Kienou. Amadou plays several other traditional African instruments – the dunduns, the n’goni, and the tama, not to mention the Western guitar and drum set.
As a djeli, musician-composer, dancer, choreographer, and instructor, Amadou Kienou has been active throughout North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, India, and the Caribbean. He has performed and recorded with many great artists, including Miriam Makeba, Manu Dibango, Angélique Kidjo, Sali, Youssou N'dour, and Kassav, and with his own ensembles Fotéban and Djeli Sira (The Griot’s Path). In recognition of his artistry, he has received numerous awards, including Best African Performing Artist in Canada 2019, Radio Kilimandjaro’s Best Male Performer of 2018 and Male Artist of the Year 2016, Cultural Ambassador of Burkina Faso in Canada. On June 19th, 2018, Amadou Kienou was awarded the Order of Merit of Arts, Letters and Communication, in Ottawa, Canada.
Formally recognized as a Griot/Master Drummer in his homeland (and the only one in Canada), Amadou has resided in Toronto since 2008, performing around the globe and regularly teaching dance and drumming workshops in schools, universitie, and at festivals throughout the nation. Amadou’s fluency in English, French, German and the universal language of the drum allows him to reach a large audience with his teachings.
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African Arts Institute (AAI) is a non-profit, charitable organization headquartered in Belleville, Ontario, steered by a team of directors, staff, and volunteers who are committed to the promotion of African arts and culture.
African Arts Institute is located on the territory of the Wendat, the Anishinaabe, and the Haudenosaunee people. Belleville shares the shorelines of the Bay of Quinte with Kenhtè:ke (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory).
Our purpose is to advance education by providing instructional courses, seminars, and workshops on African performing, visual, and literary arts, and to advance the public’s appreciation of the arts by providing public performances, art exhibitions, presentations of African performing, visual, and literary arts, and providing a forum for qualified artists to exhibit, present, or perform their artistic works through participation in such events.
Agenda
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Community Dinner
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Concert
Event venue & nearby stays
Belleville Fish and Game Club, 150 Elmwood Drive, Belleville, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.