About

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About Book Author

KOJO BEY

Kojo Bey is a father of eleven, a grandfather, a husband, a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a godfather, a teacher, philanthropist, humanitarian, healer, spiritual life coach, and a student of the jembe. Kojo was introduced to the African drum and dance world as a young child by attending his Aunt’s and Father’s rehearsals with Akosua Dance and Drum Troupe in Mount Vernon, New York. These encounters sparked a flame for the drum inside of Kojo that would eventually blaze into a lifestyle while attending college in Nevada. Kojo co-founded Nevada’s first African performing group, CODAME (Children of the Diaspora African Music Ensemble); co-founded SOUNDS OF AFRIKA African Drum and Dance Troupe (based in the New York Tri-state area); and founded Drums 4 Life (based in Charlotte, North Carolina).

Mr. Bey established African drum and dance programs in Accompong Town, a maroon community on the island of Jamaica and in Brenu Akyinim, Ghana. Kojo has fulfilled African drum and dance contracts for various Fortune 500 companies, community-based organizations, and countless schools and universities over the past thirty years. Kojo built, owns, and manages a healing retreat property called Ocean Breeze in Ghana, West Africa. His vision is to host service trips, cultural tours, African drum and dance retreats, and healing retreats at Ocean Breeze on an ongoing basis.

About

About the Book

The jembe drum is one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world. This book will explore African drumming and dance before the jembe drum arrived in America. Drummers, dancers and enthusiasts who experienced the beginning of jembe music in America provided insight on how the jembe fueled a revolution. The energy of this book encouraged Jembefolas to reveal secret information they had never shared before. The author passionately aims for readers to recognize the African American pioneers who helped to spread the jembe revolution.