Voices Of Africa Choral and Percussion Ensemble

About Me

The "Voices of Africa" Choral & Percussion Ensemble was first formed as a children's group when it's founder. Nana Baakan Agyiriwah, while homeschooling her children, used song as a way to teach her children. While doing this, she noticed that her children could naturally harmonize. She also taught by drumming on the bottom of 5 gallon water jugs and when she noticed her children could join in on intricate patterns, she knew something beautiful was emerging.
The"Voices of Africa" Choral & Percussion Ensemble was first formed as a children's a cappella and percussion ensemble. It later became an all-women's a cappella and percussion ensemble which included for fifteen years, three of it's original members, Nana Baakan, her eldest daughter Okomfo Adwoa Tacheampong and her youngest daughter Zakiyyah Mckelven. It has developed a venue for professional performing female artists to expand their skills, abilities and knowledge of the African Cultural Arts.
"Voices of Africa" has traveled extensively across the US and abroad to Ghana, West Africa, Canada, & Jamaica. "Voices of Africa" performs a powerfully unique fusion of soul-stirring a cappella harmonies and African Percussions. "Voices of Africa" play the Sekere (Shay-ka-ray), beaded gourd, Sakara (Saa-ka-ra), and the Sangba (Djun-djun) drum and the Agogo bell (ah-go-go) double headed bells) and more recently, the well known African percussion instrument, called the Djembe (jem bay). The music spans the African Diaspora and brings a powerful message about the culture and tradition of African descendant women who dare to play drums.
VISIT OUR ONLINE STORE!!! Memorabilia! Sekeres! Sakara Drums!
Here we are @ the America's 400th Anniversary Celebration @ Penn's Landing. June 16, 2006
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/11/2006
Band Website: www.voicesofafrica.net
Band Members: ..

Nana Baakan Akosua Agyiriwah, Managing Director & Founder
Thea Bashful, Performing Artist
Kimberly Logan, Performing Artist
Jan Jeffries, Percussionist
Okomfo Adwoa Tacheampong, Performing Artist
Janet McDonald, Performing Artist

Other Featured Members Gina Ferrera
Stacie Dandrea
Dana Williams Zakiyyah McKelven Marcy Francis Blanche Baxter Okomfo Nyo Agyiriwah

Influences:Miriam Makeba, LadySmith Black Mambazo, Sergio Mendez, Olodum, Ile Aiye, Dave Matthews Band, Alo Brasil, Sweet Honey in the Rock

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From Crackle: The Voices Of Africa Choral & Percussion Ensemble

Sounds Like:We've been told we have a sound like Sweet Honey & The Rock...we think we sound like us! You have to experience us to understand...please do :)

The Voices Of Africa Choral & Percussion Ensemble

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Type of Label: Major

My Blog

VOA SONICBIDS Calendar of Events

View The Voices Of Africa Choral & Percussion Ensemble's SonicBids EPK
Posted by on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:12:00 GMT

VOICES OF AFRICA LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS

Be part of one of the most exciting a capella/percussion all-female groups in the area! We are looking to expand and are looking for talented female musicians to audition for our group. Vocal talent a...
Posted by on Wed, 02 May 2007 07:03:00 GMT

CUSTOM MADE SEKERES

Member, Assistant Manager and Director of Voices of Africa (and my sister!) Zakiyyah Mckelven has been creating sekeres since she was a child. She has honed the skill and added her own special touches...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:51:00 GMT

VOA PERFORMS IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA!

Okay Folks, You all continue to ask me when on earth VOA is going to perform in the Philadelphia area (we go everywhere and rarely set foot here!)...well, finally I have an answer: Sunda...
Posted by on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:06:00 GMT

VOA in the City Paper!!!

Woo Hoo! We are part of the cover story for the Philadelphia City Paper. The Cover is about Great Philadelphia Music Secrets. Check it out online here: http://70.87.42.251/articles/2006/10...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:32:00 GMT

VOA in NYC

We performed Tuesday as part of a Working Mother's Conference. We were very pleased to find out that our hotel was seconds away from Times Square, so we walked there the night before. The perfor...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:06:00 GMT

Clark Park Performance

This is driving me bonkers, but now they have us listed from 1:40 - 2:00 so I honestly have no idea what time we are going on...I say get there @ 1:00 so you don't miss us!!!
Posted by on Fri, 16 Jun 2006 07:19:00 GMT

Clark Park Fest...TIME CHANGE

Okay, the time has been changed several times, but the last I heard, we perform this Satruday, June 17th @ Clark Park, 43rd & Chester Ave 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM...See you there!!!!
Posted by on Tue, 13 Jun 2006 09:22:00 GMT

VOA Summer Perfomances in Philadelphia

Woo Hoo! No, Philly, we have not abandoned you, we stil do perform in the area. I've had many people ask when we were going to perform in the area...so here goes: Saturday, June, 10 2006 W...
Posted by on Sat, 03 Jun 2006 11:47:00 GMT

In case you want to know more...

In case you want to know more about me...Musical Director of VOA...My name is Okomfo Adwoa Tacheampong. Y estoy aqui www.okomfoadwoa.com Other members of the group maybe posting to this blog soo...
Posted by on Fri, 12 May 2006 09:13:00 GMT