"Promoting contemporary music composition, dance choreography, performances and scholarly works that use African  Folk idioms as source material for their explorations"


Sankusem exists to promote the contemporary explorations of traditional African music and dance by different disciplines. We currently limit our disciplines to music performance, music composition, choreography and dance, and scholarship.


SANKUSEM PROGRAMS

Firstly, our African Festivals celebrate and promotes contemporary usages of the African folk heritage in the fields of music, dance and scholarship.Our goal for our Festivals is to create a forum for creative interactions by our participants, and to present the results of these interactions to local and International audiences.

Secondly, our Annual international Composition and Choreography Competition fosters and encourages the development of contemporary composition, choreography and performance that specifically  derives from African  folk idioms.Our goal for the Composition and Choreography competition is to reward the results that come from such explorations, regardless or age, gender or nationality.

Thirdly, our artists are available to engage in Community Outreach Programs such as  performances, workshops, master-classes, and seminars. Inquiries about the Community Outreach Program should be directed to info@sankusem.org


THE SANKUSEM CONCEPT 

Sankusem shapes its programs to meet the needs of a Post-Modern International Community of musicians, scholars, choreographers, dancers and audiences who are interested in the traditional music and dance of Africa. Our programs always aim to be:

  • Multi-Cultural: Individuals from different cultures artistically express African folk idioms in their own voices
  • Educational: Different cultures learn about African folk music and dance heritage in a manner that is both experiential, scholarly, and inspirational.
  • Inter-disciplinary: Different disciplines explore traditional African music and dance in a context that allows for meaningful exchanges
  • Contemporary: Modern methods of scholarship, choreography, composition and performance meet Africa’s traditional music and dance.