"Songs for Ogún" arranged for Kitsikpo

It's the Holidays - I want to share some music with y'all!

Here's a video I shot: "Songs for Ogún" arranged for Kitsikpo (Kashakas).

The songs (vocal cantos) are from the Oru Cantado - part of the Batá tradition. Over the past 6 years, I've studied this traditional repertoire in Canada, Cuba, and Swizerland.

Most recently, in October 2013, I spent two weeks living/studying with Julio Davalos in Biel, Switzerland - learning the drum language, vocal cantos and spiritual/historical context of the folkloric Cuban music. Originally from Havana, Julio is a master drummer of folkloric Afro-Cuban styles (Batá, Rumba, Palo). Currently based in Switzerland, he co-authored a book/CD-series documenting the folkloric vocal traditions of Cuba, Cantos Afro-Cubano. 

In the summer of 2009, I travelled to Ghana, where I studied traditional West African hand drumming/percussion. I spent three weeks living in Dagbamete (a village in the Volta Region), where I learned traditional drums/dance of the Ewe tribe with master drummers Kwasi Dunyo and Ledzi Agudzemegah. This is where I was first introduced to Kitsikpo (Kashakas).

Now, I've joined the two. Here's my arrangement of "Songs for Ogún" performed on Kitsikpo. Enjoy!