Bi-Okoto Program Details

Lecture Demonstration

This is a (1) hour interactive, interdisciplinary program will enhance your student's creative thinking skills as we take them on a journey from your locality to a few countries in West or South Africa. The programs present culture, language, math and history thru authentic songs, folk stories, highlighting , geography, with essential drumming and dances from the countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, or South Africa. Students and teachers participate throughout the presentation with call & responses. Maximum of 350 students in a large space such as a gym/auditorium. The program concludes with questions and answers

Music & Movement Workshops

Enhance your students creative thinking skills and with an interdisciplinary movement workshop. Structured for small groups of 60 or less, a member of Bi-Okoto will teach everyone a song, dance, various greetings, and some basic West African music rhythms that they will be able to perform. *A small supply fee applied to cost of program.

Facilitated Drum Circles

The Drum Circle is a multicultural experience that is customized to meet your needs - educational, spiritual or mental healing, party entertainment, or just for fun! The Drum Circle can consist of beginners to essential drumming and dances from the countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, or South Africa. Students and teachers participate throughout the presentation with call & responses. Maximum of 350 students in a large space such as a gym/auditorium. The program concludes with questions and answers.

Experienced drummers of all ages and enables them to share & learn new rhythms, culture and information. It encourages people to discover their gifts & talents while appreciating those of others and to be able to look at gifts in a non-traditional way & to step out of their own comfort zones. If the participants are more beginners... the circle becomes more instruction based with facilitator demonstrating a particular stroke/rhythm and the participants follow. A more intermediate/advance audience of participants becomes a true "jam" session with the facilitator starting the circle with a rhythm and then each participant has their turn to lead the circle... each playing a different pattern, rhythm etc. with the facilitator starting/stopping and arranging the music.

Teacher In-Service (Professional Development)

Residencies are educational experiences that may consist multiple visits to a facility that has a strong interest in understanding the culture. Our residencies are interdisciplinary and introduce basic music, dance and theater skills. We can create your residency curriculum based around your lesson plan and state/national standards or county standards. Residencies take time to plan if they are to be well executed and received. Ask for details