“This is ADAAWE. This is music from Africa, from America. Spirit sent. Heart felt. This is skin on skin, wood on wood, voices on air. The first heartbeat. Reality. Put your ear to Earth and listen. This is ADAAWE.”
ADAAWE is seven dynamic, diverse women creating rich organic music of the voice and drum, which comes from the heart and speaks to the soul! In the Adaawe tradition of Ghana, West Africa, women gather in the moonlight to create music and sing songs about life’s joys and sorrows. Through constant improvisation, they breathe new life into ancient music. Their spirit of celebration and strength is the inspiration behind ADAAWE.
These beautiful and skilled percussionists and vocalists come from all over the world, and their music is an international fusion of African music and rhythms, R&B/pop vocals, arresting Gospel vocal harmonies, and funky original creations. ADAAWE brings audiences to their feet with high energy djembe drumming, opens their minds with poetic lyrics and hypnotizes them with the traditional women’s music of West Africa. ADAAWE’s music is a healing force propelled by the power of women’s voices and the communication of the drum. ADAAWE brings world music to the mainstream, African drums to pop culture, and meaning back to music. In this challenging time in our world’s history, intercultural understanding and celebration of diversity is more important than ever.
Since 1996, ADAAWE has performed locally and nationally at many colleges, universities, performing arts venues, music festivals, and community events. They have opened for James Brown, Mickey Hart, Los Lobos, Yolanda Adams, Sugar Hill Gang, Michelle Shocked, Spearhead, James Ingram, Harry Belafonte and many others. Their celebratory concert appearances are not to be missed, and their informative school shows reach the next generation with humor, fun and musical understanding.
ADAAWE has been featured in: "The World Festival of Sacred Music - the Americas" documentary (Catchlight Films, 2000) and on The World Festival CD release (Bindu Records); "Sister Celebration", John Anson Ford Amphitheater's 2001 Summer Series; "Drum Magazine", March/April 2002 issue; and L.A. Direct Magazine, May 2004. ADAAWE's vocal percussion style was recently featured in a national Hyundai commercial. They currently appear in a movie trailer for KCRW 89.9FM, a major Los Angeles radio station, in Laemmle Theaters, and they have released their debut CD, "Six Women Strong", a feast for the ears that will keep you dancing and yearning for more!
Come travel with ADAAWE on an unforgettable musical journey - into a new day of music!
SELECTED PAST PERFORMANCES
NATIONAL
Ashkenaz - Berkeley, CA
Berea College - Berea Kentucky
Bradley University - Peoria, IL
Buena Performing Arts Center - Prescott, AZ
Bunker Hill College - Boston, MA
California World Music Festival (Opening for Mickey Hart)– Grass Valley, CA
Carlton College Spring Festival (Opening for Sugar Hill Gang & Wilco) - North Field, MN
City Center - New York City, NY
City of Henderson Family Series Performance - Henderson, NV
Health & Harmony Festival, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, CA
Earlville Opera House - Earlville, NY
The Elks Theatre - Prescott, AZ
Esalen Institute - Big Sur, CA
Everett Communtiy College - Everett, WA
Harborfest - Oswego, NY
Illinois State University - Normal, IL
Illinois Wesleyn University - Bloomington, IL
Kankatee Community College - IL
Lewis University - Romeoville, IL
Muskingum College - New Concord, OH
Myrna Loy Theatre - Helena, MT
Pleasanton Family Festival - Pleasanton, CA
Presbyterian College – Clinton, South Carolina
Quincy College - Quincy, IL
Schenectedy Central Park - Schenectedy, NY
Sounds of Brazil - New York City, NY
Smoky Hill River Festival - Salinas, KS
Spokane Community College - Spokane, WA
Sun Valley Arts Festival - Sun Valley, ID
University of Michigan - Dearborn, MI
Muskingum College - New Concord, OH
Lawrence University, Appelton, WI
Morton College - Cicero, IL
Ogelsby, IL
University of St. Francis - Joliet, IL
University of North Carolina - Greensboro, NC
University of St. Catherine - St. Paul, MN
University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT
Utah State University - Logan, UT
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
African Marketplace - Los Angeles
Agape World Peace Day Celebration - Santa Monica & Palm Springs
Armand Hammer Museum World Music Series - Westwood
Beverly Hills Affair in the Garden - Beverly Hills
California State University - Fullerton
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts – Cerritos
City of Irvine's Global Village Festival - Irvine
Directors Guild Theatre - Hollywood
Grand Performances at California Plaza Summer Series - Los Angeles
International Friendship Festival, with Michael Sambelo at Queen Mary - Long Beach
Irvine Valley College, Women's History Month Celebration - Irvine
John Anson Ford Theatre - Hollywood
Lancaster Performing Arts Center - Lancaster, CA, Opening for JAMES BROWN
Los Angeles Convention Center, Travel & Leisure Expo with NBC
Madrid Theater - Canoga Park, CA
Martin Luther King Celebration - Covina, CA
Merv Griffin Productions Presents Beverly Hills Millennium Block Party
Munch on Music Summer Series, L.A. County Mall, with L.A. County Arts Commission - LA
Music Center of Los Angeles, “Voices for a Green L.A.” with Los Lobos, Yolanda Adams
Occidental College, Black History Month Celebration - Eagle Rock
Pepperdine University, Black History Month Celebration - Malibu
Soka University of America, Laying of the Cornerstone Celebration - Alisa Viejo
St. Mark's Nightclub, with Pancho Sanchez - Venice
Santa Barbara Fiesta Days - Santa Barbara
Santa Monica Festival - Santa Monica, CA
Summer Nights at the Ford, African Village, John Anson Ford Theatre - Hollywood
Temple Bar - Santa Monica, CA
UCLA World Fest - Westwood
UC Riverside's free summer concert series, Music by the Tower - Riverside, CA
University of California - Santa Barbara, Multicultural Center Performing Arts Series
Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival - Watts
Whispers of an Easy Evening, Alex Theater, with Angela Basset, Jasmine Guy, Eartha Robinson
Whittier College - Whittier, CA
World Festival of Sacred Music at the UCLA University Catholic Center - Los Angeles
RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES
WORKSHOPS
ADAAWE members teach drumming and dance workshops based on the traditions of Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal. Workshop participants learn the basic techniques and cultural history of the djembe, djun-djun, and kpanlogo drums, and their place within traditional societies. Students of all levels learn through vocalized and hand clapped rhythms, songs, dance steps, and simple drum rhythms
EDUCATIONAL SHOWS
ADAAWE’s educational shows are tailored for each audience. For elementary schools through colleges, ADAAWE creates an exciting, interactive lecture/demonstration performance, where each instrument is explained, the meanings of songs are translated, and audiences have an opportunity to participate and ask questions of the performers. Audience members young and old get on their feet, sing songs, smile, and leave with an understanding of the history of African music, Gospel, and an empowering feeling of creativity and inspiration.
COMPANY BIOS
JOSELYN WILKINSON
Joselyn is the founder of ADAAWE. Born and raised in Montana, she grew up acting, singing and dancing. She studied at the University of Ghana, UCLA, and in Senegal. Her award winning research on the women's music of Ghana was the inspiration for the group. She has also produced festivals and performed with Joselyn & wild roots, Makina Loca, the African Brazilian Connection and others. She brings her vocals, songwriting, tama talking drum, djembe and conga to ADAAWE.
BRIDGET GRAHAM
Bridget’s roots are in North Carolina and New York City. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career in film and television and has appeared in numerous commercials and T.V. programs such as "Murder One" and films such as "The Great White Hype." Besides Bridget's studio vocal experience, she has also performed live with Wadada, Najite, Rocky Dawuni, Francis Awe, and Yoruba House. Her voice shines in ADAAWE’s musical fabric.
MONIQUE AFENJAR
Being born in Morocco and raised in Israel, music was a daily part of Monique's life. A natural vocalist and musician, she brings the rhythms of the Middle East, the timbre of the frame drum and strong vibrations of the djun djun to ADAAWE. She studied the bendir (Egyptian tambourine) and the darabukah with Salaheddin Tekesh and the doumbek with Polly Ferber. Monique has also performed with Wadada and Yoruba House.
PHYLLISS BAILEY BROOKS
Phylliss is a graduate of USC and hails from Los Angeles, where she grew up working in the entertainment industry. This multi-talented woman is an accomplished actress, vocalist & musical/ vocal director. She has performed internationally with her one-woman cabaret show, and has worked on TV hits "In Living Color," "Grace Under Fire" and "MADtv”. She was also an original cast member of the Broadway hit "Jelly's Last Jam." Phylliss adds her virtuoso talent as a featured vocalist.
NAKEILTHA CAMPBELL
Nakeiltha grew up in Panama surrounded by traditional culture and music. She studies West African Drumming of Guinea with Mamady Keita (Djembe Fola). Nakeiltha has performed with Bakra Bata steel drum ensemble, Leon Mobley, Candy Sosa, Long John Oliva, Francisco Aguabella and many others at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and the NAACP Image Awards. As ADAAWE’s newest member, she adds an exciting stage energy as well as her masterful percussion work to the group.
ANINDO
Anindo began her musical career in her homeland of Kenya, and enjoyed a successful solo career in Europe. Anindo has performed with Babatunde Olatunji, Leon Mobley’s Da Lion, Katherine Dunham, and is a certified Dunham technique instructor. As a vocal contractor, she has worked on such films as "The Air Up There", "Kazaam", "Slave of Dreams", "Congo", and "Ali". She also worked with Russ Landau on CBS's "Survivor Africa", in Kenya.
DEZ “THE PHAROAH”
"The Pharoah has given her entire life over to the creation of wonderfully intriguing music. Captivating her audience, she has been blessed with the ability to soothe the heart and ease the mind. From drums, to sax, to trumpet, to flute, to vocals....she has not ceased to amaze those left in disbelief. She prides herself the ability to remain humble and always willing to give her music to the listener.