Barbara Borden– A drummer, percussionist, keeper of the beat, she began drumming at age ten. Her musical expression is diverse: composer and recording artist (latest album Beauty in the Beat); performing artist (solo “percussion play” She Dares to Drum); member of the band Alive! (eight years, three albums); and educator (community drum circles, workshops, clinics, retreats, and private students). With the Heart Drum—a very special community gathering drum—Borden does her part to help keep the heartbeat of life alive and well.

Oral Traditionalist/Teacher/Musician, Nurudafina Pili Abena has been drumming for 30 years. She studied drumming as a child with Master Babatunde Olatunji as well as with many masters of traditional folklore from African and Eastern origins. She has performed and studied in West Africa (Senegal), Kenya (East Africa), and in Cuba as well as nationally throughout the United States of America.

Nurudafina founded the “universal Vibrations School of Oral Traditions” in 1976. She is considered one of the original women elders and is respected internationally as a woman drummer and teacher.

Nuru is a “Woman on a Mission”, using drumming to unite people from diverse backgrounds and to dispel the ignorance surrounding African music and diaspora Cultural folklore.

Ubaka Hill–(ooh-BAH-ka), a native New Yorker, a drummer, percussionist, vocalist, songwriter, composer, poet and teacher of hand drumming to inspire healing and soulful joy. Ubaka has been an inspiration to many for 30 years of her professional career as a performer and teacher throughout the United States and international communities.

She is the Founder/Director of the Drumsong Institute Museum, Archive, and Library of Women’s Drum and Percussion Traditions, co-founder and co- producer of “The Happen’n” in Upstate New York. Ubaka is recognized as a motivational speaker, visionary, and fine art oil painter. She is the “first teacher” of many hand drummers. Ubaka Hill is the Founder and Musical Director of The Drumsong Orchestra, a national, folkloric, multi-cultural, diverse ensemble of drummers and percussionists of all ages, skill levels and physical abilities. You can learn more about Ubaka at ubakahilldrumsong.com.

Simone LaDrumma has been composing and performing on hand drums since 1987. She has studied many different styles of drumming including Afro-Cuban, West African and Middle Eastern, and drumset. Simone was founder and Director of Ladies Don’t Drum, an all-female percussion ensemble. In 1991 Simone created “Drumming & The Holistic Expression of Rhythm,” a simple and joyous method of learning to play hand drums.

Over the years, Simone has brought the magic of rhythmic expression to thousands of people of all ages, genders and skill levels across the U.S., Canada and Europe, both as a teacher and as a performer. Simone’s entertaining and effective teaching style is perfect for the “raw beginner” with no musical background, as well as those with more experience. For more information, see her web site

Vicki Noble is a Healer, Author, Artist, and Wisdom Teacher, Co-creator of The Motherpeace Tarot and author of eight books, including Shakti Woman and The Double Goddess.

Vicki teaches in the Women’s Spirituality Masters Program at ITP in Palo Alto and travels internationally teaching Goddess and Tibetan Buddhist Dakini practices to women around the world. At home in Santa Cruz, California, she is a professional astrologer and works privately with clients and students.

She has developed an innovative Transformational Ritual Healing Circle that combines drumming, chanting, and hands-on healing

Jeannette Anglin is Tribal Secretary of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria,an elected position of the Tribe. She is learning the Coast Miwok language, basketry of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo and is part of a group revitalizing the cultural aspects of the Tribal history.

She has been instrumental in overseeing tribal scholarships and starting a Youth Council.

Jeannette is a retired secondary public school teacher and administrator. In retirement she also serves on the Sonoma State University Academic Foundation, the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation Board of Directors, and the Chop’s Teen Center Board of Directors in Santa Rosa

Ava’s joy of ecstatic union with spirit can be seen in her dance performance, her writing, and love for family, friends & community. Considered a “proverbial” artist Ava’s talents include choreographer/dancer, actor, drummer/musician, poet & videographer. Ava has studied many forms of dance and considers West African her forte.

Ava has performed solo and toured with D’Cuckoo, Dimensions Dance Theater, Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, Harambee Dance Ensemble, David Rousseve’s “Reality”, and Canadian award-winning dub-poet, Lillian Allen. She’s studied with Dr. Albirda Rose, Nontsizi Cayou, Deborah Vaughan, grammy winner Dr. Zak and Naomi Diouf, Marie Bass, Reggie Savage, and internationally acclaimed, Alonzo King, to name a few.

Ava has founded her own dance company, Spirit Theatre of Dance as well as Spirit Theatre Dance Studio offering performances, drum and dance classes, workshops, and other classes for the community. Her studio received the Express newspaper’s “Best in the Bay” two years running.

Ava has been a consultant for many public school districts teaching dance and music theory, theater, and stagecraft. She has also produced videos, and wrote curriculum. Ava currently performs and/or teaches with Ojalá, Purple Moon Dance Project, Dreamfish for sustainability, as well as her freelance solo performance.

Ava has a self-published book of poetry, A Square Opening. Ava lives in San Rafael with her wife, Elisa.

Ava can be reached at: SpiritTheatreofDance@hotmail.com.

photo by Jackie Thomason

Akiba Onada-Sikwoia has been participating in ceremony, conducting workshops and maintaining a healing practice for the past twenty-five years. Akiba’s Spiritual practices, coupled with knowledge that we are so much more than our physical bodies, have afforded her the gift to believe in the miraculous.

Adwoa Tacheampong is a vocalist, drummer, dancer & actor who has been performing since the age of 10. She has studied many forms of dance, including Afro-Cuban, Ghanaian, Brazilian & Haitian dance.

Adwoa plays several instruments including, but not limited to Batá, surdo, sekere,
sakara, agogo, & caixa. She is an avid photographer & writer. She continually seeks to expand her creative opportunities including studying conga drumming & continuously strengthening her voice.

Shawn Nealy has been walking with the drum for the past 6 years & actively apprenticing & performing throughout the Bay Area (2 years) with Afia Walking Tree, learning traditional rhythms from West Africa, as well as learning how to utilize the drums for healing & liberation.

As a progressiv, social justice educator, she continually introduces her high school students to the power of the drum and its history of empowerment for African people as a nourishing tool to cultivate change.