Benkadi’s mission is to unlock learning skills for life, improve educational outcomes and build communities.
Developing people and communities through West African drum, dance, and culture classes. Benkadi is fun backed by scientific research.
We provide instruments and instruction by highly experienced educators who have backgrounds as world class professional West African musicians and dancers.
You provide the location and the students – Benkadi does the rest.
Our primary focus is providing semester long structured curriculum for in-schedule arts class credit. We also provide custom programs for vacation programming, educational seminars and team building events.
Benefits Of Communal Drum and Dance
Stimulates creativity and self-expression
Increases self-esteem and confidence
Healthy exercise
Develops cognitive skills - concentration, recall, pattern recognition, and coordination
Positive impact on behavior and improves the state of mind outside of class
Builds community
Easy to start and lots of fun for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds
Why Bring Benkadi To Your Learning Community?
There has never been a more important time to get together, break down barriers between people, and experience joy in our community
Playing drums and dancing is an experience that has almost no barrier to entry and can be enjoyed by people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities. (including special needs).
Arts education can make a dramatic difference in the quality of life and trajectory for success for students
Traditional West African music and dance provides a positive African cultural experience and an entry point to African history, social studies, geography, and more.
Why A Program Focused On West African Culture?
Can you answer these basic questions about Africa?
What is Africa?
How many countries make up Africa?
How many people live in Africa?
Where did all of humanity originate?
Whether we are talking about the Africa of history or Africa today for many of us, our level of knowledge about Africa is minimal at best.
Most of the 16 million enslaved people that were brought from Africa to America, Brasil, the Caribbean and elsewhere came from the countries of West Africa. West African culture has had an immeasurable impact on American culture and arts and recognition and appreciation of that influence is imperative.
Knowledge of our own culture and heritage and respect for the culture and heritage of our friends and neighbors is essential in building collaboration and community.
The answers are 1. A continent (not a country); 2. 54 (of the world’s 196) ; 3. 1.7 bil of the world’s 7.8bil. and 4. Africa.
Contact
Please contact us for more information on our programs, how Benkadi can work with your learning community or with any other questions.
Email
office@benkadi.live
Phone
(818) 258-9245