Who’s who?
These are some of the people already involved in the African Workshop both in Africa and the UK.
Africa
Amadou Somaré
Musician, instrument maker, project leader
“I moved to Bamako in 1992 from a town up in the desert. I used to sing in the street and met other artists and sang with them. We did what we could for food.
“Eventually me and some friends decided to set up a band – the Groupe Africa Son. That was in 2003. We set up the first workshop to help kids learn the different skills we had and to let them learn to play the music we all love.
“We are all musicians and artists and we wanted to help the children who live here, in our community. Life is extremely difficult in this country for everyone but particularly for children without any education or skills. We want to change that.”
UK
Ben Holt
Promoter, writer, project leader
“Art and music are an incredible way to engage people and to have fun. Sometimes they understandably get lost in larger development project. But it is important to let kids be kids, to enjoy themselves and to have space to play. It’s also vital to link artists and musicians across cultures – who knows what might happen!
“I have worked in development and the charity sector and I want to combine those skills with creativity and music. That’s what the African Workshop is about. You wouldn’t believe the amount of laughter and the number of smiles that place generates!”
Pete Coe
Musician, fundraiser
Pete Coe has been a professional folk musician since 1971, recording, broadcasting & playing at festivals, concerts, clubs, schools & dances throughout Britain, Europe, Bangladesh, New Zealand & USA.
He mainly sings traditional English songs though he has written a few original songs & accompanies them on melodeon, bouzouki, dulcimer, banjo & foot percussion. http://www.backshift.demon.co.uk
He is a founder member of Ryburn 3 Step, a community folk music project, based in West Yorkshire, which organises a folk club, barn dances, a longsword dance team, an annual folk play, step dance & singing workshops & school presentations. http://www.ryburn3step.org.uk
Steve Holt OBE
Officer and strategic development
Steve is the Director of the Directorate of Change Management at the Department of Works and Pensions – the largest government department in the UK.
His outstanding contribution was recognised with an OBE in 2002. His experience dealing with large budgets and delivering complex projects in a demanding environment are crucial for the future success of the African Workshop.
Johnny Adams
Fundraising manager
Now retired from academia, Johnny runs music research projects, broadcasts
on local radio, and performs and records folk music both as a musician and a
producer. His discography runs to 41 folk albums.
He is the director of the Village Music Project which publishes
transcriptions of early dance music from original manuscripts, of the Paul
Graney Memorial Archive of oral history recordings and also of Folkopedia,
a growing online resource for folk music researchers.
He presently chairs Ryburn 3 Step in West Yorkshire, a very active folk arts
organisation which supports the African Workshop with regular collections
and donations.
Chris Coe
Fundraising manager
Chris is well known for her singing and is a visiting tutor to the Folk
Music degree at Newcastle University where she works with students on both
repertoire and technique. In addition she is a visiting tutor and director
at Huddersfield University’s drama department.
Also known as a hammer dulcimer player, she has undertaken a number of
musical projects over the years ranging from cultural exchanges abroad to
the soundtrack for the Channel 4 drama-doc on Mo Mowlam.
Additionally her art background has led to a range of community arts
projects and her experience in this field makes her eminently suitable for
supporting arts project work in Bamako.
on local radio, and performs and records folk music both as a musician and a
producer. His discography runs to 41 folk albums.
He is the director of the Village Music Project which publishes
transcriptions of early dance music from original manuscripts, of the Paul
Graney Memorial Archive of oral history recordings and also of Folkopedia,
a growing online resource for folk music researchers.
He presently chairs Ryburn 3 Step in West Yorkshire, a very active folk arts
organisation which supports the African Workshop with regular collections
and donations.