Siama’s Congo Roots

Siama plays his signature style of guitar and also traditional African instruments like balafon (marimba), mbira (thumb piano) and lokole (tone drum) while Dallas sings, plays shaker, narrates and encourages everyone to participate.

This program begins with everyone greeting each other in African languages. Then we sing along to catchy songs in Kikongo, Lingala, English and sometimes Swahili while practicing fun African singing styles (like layering parts, call and response and yodeling) while hearing fun stories about Siama’s childhood in rural Bas Congo. Class often ends with playing shakers and dancing.

This project is funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.