AFRICA TO AUSTIN 2026 FESTIVAL - Drum & Dance Workshops!

AFRICA TO AUSTIN FESTIVAL 2026

NOVEMBER 6 TO 8, 2026 (Friday to Sunday)

Ancient rhythms. Living traditions. One unforgettable weekend!

Join Master West African Percussionist Aboubacar Sylla and Bramaya West African Drum and Dance Ensemble for a landmark celebration of African and African diaspora art forms — three days of live performances, drum and dance workshops, and community gathering in the heart of Austin!

Africa to Austin Festival 2026 marks the first time Austin has hosted a West African drum and dance conference of this scale — bringing together master artists from Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Ivory Coast to teach, perform, and share the living culture of African musical traditions with the Austin community.

The celebration begins Friday, November 6 with our Opening Night Performance at the Boyd Vance Theater, at George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center — Austin's first museum dedicated to African American history and culture, and the perfect home for this weekend of heritage and joy!

Over three extraordinary days, our guest master artists will take the stage and lead workshops alongside Austin groups IFA Dancing & Drum and Puerto Rican Bomba, representing Brazil and Puerto Rico, a living testament to how Africa's rhythms traveled the world and transformed in new lands.

This is a weekend for all of Austin, its visitors, and the African Drum and Dance Community all over the country and the world!

Everybody is welcome!!

THIS EVENT PAGE IS FOR PURCHASING TICKETS FOR THE WORKSHOPS.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE PERFORMANCES GO TO:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/africa-to-austin-2026-festival-two-extraordinary-performances-tickets-2001080627023?aff=oddtdtcreator

AFRICA TO AUSTIN FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH

7:30 PM TO 9:00 PM PERFORMANCE

Location: George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center

Address: 1165 Angelina St, Austin, TX 78702

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH

Location: George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center

Address: 1165 Angelina St, Austin, TX 78702

WORKSHOPS

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Dun dun Dance - All Levels

Instructor: Ismael Kouyate - Guinea

@ the studio

11:15 AM TO 12:45 PM

Dance class

Instructor: Rujeko Dumbutshena - Zimbabwe

@ the studio

11:15 AM TO 12:45 PM

Balafon Class

Instructor: Abou Sylla - Guinea

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Djembé Class

Instructor: Soriba Fofana - Guinea

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Dance Class

Instructor: Mami Camara - Guinea

@ the studio

2:45 PM TO 4:00 PM

Dance Class

Instructor: Jean Claude Lessou - Ivory Coast

@ the studio

7:30 PM TO 9:00 PM PERFORMANCE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH

Location: Ballet Afrique Contemporary Dance

Address: 1050 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

WORKSHOPS

10: 00 AM to 11:30 AM

Dance Class

Instructor: Ismael Kouyate - Guinea

11: 45 AM to 1:15 PM

Drum Class - Djembe & Dundun

Instructor: Aboubacar Sylla - Guinea

1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Dance Class

All Instructors

– - - - - - - - - - -

4:00 pm to 6:45 pm

DUNDUNBA Traditional West African party!

FREE EVENT!

Open to the community! Family friendly.

Location: Sahara Lounge

Address: 1413 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78721

*Schedule subject to change.

Workshops Instructors - Master Artists

Dance:

Ismael Kouyate - Guinea

Rujeko Sarah Dumbutshena - Zimbabwe

Mami Camara - Guinea

Jean Claude Lessou - Ivory Coast

Drum* :

Soriba Fofana - Guinea

Aboubacar Sylla - Guinea

Balafon:

Abou Sylla - Guinea

You are welcome to come to watch the performances, to learn from the Master Instructors and to take part in this unique joyful musical experience in Austin, Texas!

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO ATTEND ALL WORKSHOPS. ALL LEVELS ARE WELCOME.

*Drums are available for rent the day of the workshops.

This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.

THIS EVENT PAGE IS FOR PURCHASING TICKETS FOR THE WORKSHOPS.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE PERFORMANCES GO TO:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/africa-to-austin-2026-festival-two-extraordinary-performances-tickets-2001080627023?aff=oddtdtcreator

Workshops tickets can be purchased at the door for $25. First come first serve.

The LIVE performances:

OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE on Friday, November 6

SATURDAY NIGHT PERFORMANCE on Saturday, November 7

Namunyi Faré

A production created and directed by Master West African Percussionist and Bramaya West African Drum and Dance Ensemble's Artistic Director Aboubacar Sylla.

Namunyi Faré — means “Traditional Music” in Susu, is an original performance created and directed by Aboubacar Sylla that traces the extraordinary journey of African music across oceans and time arriving now in Austin, Texas , through the hearts of master artists from Africa and the African Diaspora.

From the ancient rhythms of Africa to the stages of Austin, Texas — the rhythms of Africa have traveled and transformed into something new taking root in new soil, while never losing its source.

"Namunyi Faré" is the story of that journey. It is the story of people from different places, different cultures and different traditions discovering that they share a rhythm, a tempo, a way of speaking without words. How even through all the differences, music is a shared language.

Featuring the dances, songs, and music of master artists from Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Ivory Coast alongside IFA Dancing & Drum and Puerto Rican Bomba local to Austin, this performance is a celebration of how music connects us across cultures, languages, and borders.

Friday and Saturday nights' performances each tell the story of Namunyi Faré in their own way — no two nights are the same. We invite you to join us both nights for the full Africa to Austin experience.

Artists/Performers Lineup

Music:

Abou Sylla (New Hampshire) - Balafon -Guinea

Mohamed “Baco” Camara (New Mexico) - Drummer- Guinea

Soriba Fofana (New Mexico) - Drummer- Guinea

Napoleon Jambwa - (Florida) - Drummer/musician - Zimbabwe

Nfali Drame (New Mexico) - Drummer- Guinea

Dance:

Ismael Kouyate (New Jersey) - Guinea

Rujeko Sarah Dumbutshena (Florida) -Zimbabwe

Napoleon Jambwa - (Florida) - Zimbabwe

Austin locals:

Aboubacar Sylla - Multi-percussionist - Guinea

Mohamed Sylla - Guinea - Drummer- Guinea

Alseny Sylla - Guinea - Drummer- Guinea

Jean Claude Lessou - Dancer - Ivory Coast

Mami Camara - Dancer-Guinea

Aicha Conde - Dancer - Singer- Guinea

African Diaspora:

IFA Dancing & Drum - African Brazilian

Karolina Arocho & Adam Rosario - Puerto Rican Bomba

**Please note: this festival takes place at three different locations. See below for details.**

DATES AND LOCATIONS:

Friday, November 6 - Opening Night Performance and

Saturday, November 7 - Workshops & Performance

Location: *George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center • 1165 Angelina St, Austin, TX 78702

Sunday, November 8 - Workshops

Location: *Ballet Afrique Contemporary Dance • 1050 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

FREE Sunday Community Dundunba - Traditional West African Party!

Location: *Sahara Lounge • 1413 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78721

For more information visit: https://www.bramayamusic.com/africa-to-austin-festival-2026

Email us at: bramayainfo@gmail.com

THIS EVENT PAGE IS FOR PURCHASING TICKETS FOR THE WORKSHOPS.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE PERFORMANCES GO TO:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/africa-to-austin-2026-festival-two-extraordinary-performances-tickets-2001080627023?aff=oddtdtcreator