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WEST AFRICAN MASTER DRUMMER KWAKU KWAAKYE OBENG GIVES A WORKSHOP AT THE GREEN STREET ARTS CENTER

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Ghanaian Master Drummer Obeng Teaches as Part of Green Street's Adult Workshop Series

 

(Middletown, Conn. November 2, 2006)- Kwaku Kwaakye "Martin" Obeng, Master Drummer from the Republic of Ghana presents a drumming workshop on Saturday, November 18 from 1-3pm at the Green Street Arts Center. In this adult workshop, participants will be introduced to traditional West African drumming as they develop you own voice through that of the drum. Participants have the option of bringing their own drum or having one provided. Beginners are welcome. The cost for the workshop is $35; advance registration and payment is recommended. For more information or to register, please call 860-685-7871 or visit www.greenstreetartscenter.org.

Kwaku Kwaakye "Martin" Obeng is a composer, master drummer, dancer and educator who has worked internationally for the past 25 years. Born in Ghana, West Africa, Obeng began drumming at the age of five and by age seventeen he was appointed Royal Court Drummer to the high chief of the Aburi-Akuapim region of Eastern Ghana. He toured as a drummer and dancer with Ghana's National Arts Council Folkloric Company and in 1981 relocated to the U.S. where he joined the New England based Talking Drum Ensemble. He has taught Ghanaian Drumming at Brown University since 1988.

The Green Street Arts Center, which opened in January 2005, is an initiative of Wesleyan University developed in collaboration with the City of Middletown and the North End Action Team and serves as an anchor to the revitalization efforts currently underway in the North End. Programming in the former schoolhouse at 51 Green Street includes a vibrant after school program and a wide range of affordable classes and workshops for children and adults in music, dance, visual arts, theater, sound recording, media arts and creative writing.

Participation at Green Street is open to everyone; tuition assistance is available. To receive more information about the Green Street Arts Center, call 860-685-7871 or visit www.greenstreetartscenter.org.