Out of Africa

12:00a.m. 7th October 2008

West African singer, drummer and dancer Sayon Souare is coming to Maleny’s Upfront Club. Photo: Contributed

West African singer, drummer and dancer Sayon Souare and his Australian wife, Molly, will make a rare appearance at Maleny’s Upfront Club via Bellingen’s Global Carnival.

After undergoing traditional training in Guinea, Sayon led the renowned Groupe Yoli (Gambia) and Taforiyoge (Senegal) groups, singing his own compositions and performing his own brand of extraordinary dance.

Instruments include dundun, sangban, kenkenni, djembe, gongoma and bolon – a traditional hunter’s harp.

Sayon Souare is a recent arrival to these shores, from his birthplace in Guinea.

Only 24 years old, this African singer, musician, dancer and choreographer is not only prodigiously talented, but accomplished beyond his years.

He leaves behind an acclaimed career forged in much of West Africa.

From a very young age, Sayon dedicated his passion and talent to the traditional African arts of music and dance.

Both his parents are accomplished performers.

Studying under Guinea’s old revered drum masters, Sayon learned dundun, sangban, kenkenni and most notably djembe.

Having mastered these he expanded his repertoire with gongoma and bolon.

Sayon’s gift for dance, choreography, music and song led to years spent with several ballet companies, including Ballet Bougarabou (Senegal) – playing djembe and dancing – and Circus Baobab (Guinea), playing drum, dancing and performing acrobatics.

He was then sought by Ballet African (Gambia) for his skills in arranging music and choreography.

Upon his recent arrival in Australia, he was a last-minute entrant in the SoCo Cargo Latitude World Dance competition, which he won.

Sayon resides in country Victoria, where he is performing, teaching and adapting to his new life.

His talents will no doubt set an exceptionally high standard and infuse excitement in the burgeoning African dance and music scene in Australia.

This handsome young Mandinka man is a self-contained powerhouse of all the best that the African artistic tradition has to offer.

Sayon Souare is simply sensational.

WHO: Sayon Souare

WHERE: Upfront Club, Maleny

WHEN: Saturday

TICKETS: $8

INFO: 5494 2592