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    • Djembe Alchemy online learning hub

    • Djembe Alchemy Online Learning Hub

      Students of our in person classes get access to our online learning resources to revise and practice at home including comprehensive videos of all rhythms taught and notation provided.

      Check out this example video —->

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Djembe Alchemy

African Drumming & Dance Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Newcastle and Hunter

Djembe Alchemy was born out of a love for African drumming and dance, the joys they bring and the community that comes together for fun and connection in an active, energetic, and substance free celebration of being alive.

We cover the regions in and around Lake Macquarie including Lake Macquaire municiple area, Maitland, Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter region generally.

Djembe Alchemy Ben and Sophie
Guinea, West Africa 2018

Djembe Alchemy Founders

Hi, we are Ben and Sophie, the founders of Djembe Alchemy.  When we moved to Lake Macquarie, we found a lack of the style of drumming and dance that we had been experiencing and enjoying elsewhere.  We tried other drum and dance activities but found nothing really nurtures the soul in the same way as African drumming and dance.  We want a lifestyle, an active, supportive community here at Lake Macquarie and Hunter generally, like we’ve seen elsewhere, a community that supports each other, transcends perceived boundaries, that gathers for fun, exercise and a bit of a challenge, without the need for substances.  That joins together in the rhythm and celebration of life with respect for all cultures and the leaders that have gone before us.

As long-term students of African drumming and dance under our profoundly talented and appreciated teacher, African griot Master drummer Mohamed Bangoura, we decided that we would have to be the ones to build the community that we craved, and hence Djembe Alchemy was born.  It was manifested to create change and build community, to be mindful, create connection, and find joy through rhythm and movement.

We are lucky and blessed to have had regular access to and support from some very special teachers, none quite so skillful, inspiring and I have to say modest as Mohamed.  He is a library of knowledge on West African rhythm and a great teacher, and we are so profoundly thankful to have experienced his teachings and friendship for many years.  It has brought much fun and joy to our lives and gave us tools, skills and rhythms to pass onto our students and community here at Lake Macquarie.  We are so grateful for the cultural openness we see in West Africans and the support of our teachers in sharing it with others, allowing us to do what we do and share it with you.

I could talk about our experience and study tours in Africa but at the end of the day we are just students of African drumming and dance, forever learning, forever developing.  We don’t claim to be Masters or experts, we are simply students, like you, that are perhaps further along the path and want to share it with others.

Our promise 

 What we promise our students and community is this:

  • 1.      To show up for the community.
  • 2.      To always be on the path of self-development, to be learning new rhythms, dances and developing skills and content to bring to the community.
  • 3.      To strive to represent the West African culture and rhythms with respect and as authentically as a couple of non-Africans can, and create an environment of cultural respect and appreciation.
  • 4.      To deliver prepared and planned learning content and study resources in an accessible and fun way.
  • 5.      To “be the bridge” and provide opportunities for our community to engage with African Masters and other experts to provide varied and authentic experiences to the community and promote cultural exchange.
  • 6.      To support our African teachers, their culture and the people of West Africa.
  • 7.      To nurture the development of a drumming and dance community in the classroom, at other events and gatherings, and as a supportive community generally.
  • 8.      To try to do the above in a sustainable way so that we can hopefully keep it going forever.

We also appreciate you, for showing interest in what we do and love, in community, in culture and wanting this for yourself.  Please reach out if there is anything you think we may be able to help with or that you might be able to help with in achieving our mission.  Djembe Alchemy is here for the community, here for you, we’d love for you to join us and hope to see you at an event soon. 

Be mindful, create connection, and find joy through rhythm and movement.

Peace to all.

Ben and Sophie.            

FAQ's and other Info

Djembe Alchemy started 2023.

Djembe Alchemy is owned and operated by Ben and Sophie.  We have been learning African drumming on and off for almost 20 years but regularly since 2017.  We were fortunate to be able to drum regularly with one of the best Master drummers in Australia, Mohamed Bangoura and have undertaken 2 study tours to Guinea, West Africa.

Djembe Alchemy services are all based around West African drumming.  We use these established rhtyhms to teach regular classes and workshops around Lake Macquarie NSW.  Services offered include:

  • Evening weekly African Druming Classes targetting adults and teens.
  • Daytime classes for seniors and those that want to take it easy.
  • Team building workshops.
  • School incursions with authentic and structured content.
  • African Drumming Performance with the "Djembe Alchemy Drumming Ensemble".
  • Group drumming, rhythm circle and drum circle experiences for festivals, markets, parties and other events.
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