Beats Beyond Borders: Back the Tour!

Aim: Help Djembe Kingdom bring the electrifying Percussion d'Abobo to the UK - touring, teaming up and igniting cross cultural classical music!

Help Djembe Kingdom bring the electrifying Percussion d'Abobo to the UK -  touring, teaming up and igniting cross-cultural classical music like never before!

This is not just a tour – it’s the realisation of a long-held ambition to bring thepower, spirituality, and heritage of West African classical music to new stages, communities and futures. And you can be part of the dream.

We need your help to fund our tour, and we need to build a substantial financial base to cover the costs of bringing this lovely group of musicians, already known and  loved by many of our Djembe Family, to the venues we've chosen across the UK. They are dynamic, polished and truly impressive. You should hear them - they should be heard!

So our goals, ambitious as they are,  represent relevance, innovation and sustainability. We aim to:

Introduce UK audiences to the extraordinary richness of traditional West African music, performed by Percussion d’Abobo – a highly disciplined, traditionally trained Ivorian ensemble whose level of cohesion and virtuosity parallels that of a European chamber orchestra.

Build enduring cross-cultural connections between Côte d’Ivoire and the UK by creating spaces for musical collaboration, peer learning, and artistic dialogue between generations and geographies.

The project begins with rehearsals in Abidjan in October 2025 and sees the ensemble fly to the UK in early November. From there, the group will deliver a vibrant programme of performances and community workshops across England, Scotland and Wales, culminating in a two-day immersive residency in Manchester.

In early 2026, the programme extends into two cultural exchange residencies. First, experienced UK djembe players will travel to Abidjan to deepen their understanding of traditional classical forms, rhythms, and pedagogy. Then, in February, a cohort of specially selected  young UK-based musicians will undertake a fully funded, invitation only residency to immerse themselves in Ivorian musical culture.  

We need your help to bring this exciting opportunity for audiences and students alike to benefit from a collaborative adventure in musical heritage and evolution.

Meet the Team

The tour is delivered by a skilled team with broad experience in artistic programming, cultural exchange, and grassroots development.

Sidiki Dembélé, a master drummer from a Malian griot lineage, has dedicated his

life to the preservation and sharing of traditional classical music from West Africa. He has performed with the BBC Proms, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Ballet, and Manchester Collective, but his most enduring contribution is the creation the initiative Percussion de Côte d'Ivoire, under which Percussion d'Abobo is the most successful ensemble to date – a living embodiment of Ivorian musical heritage.

Percussion d’Abobo’s approach mirrors classical training: discipline, daily

rehearsal, deep transmission of knowledge through lineage, and collective

excellence. These are musicians who have grown up together, trained together,

and now tour together with a shared commitment to cultural integrity.

Vivienne Dembélé, Operations Director and co-founder of Djembe Kingdom, has

successfully managed Sidiki’s work for 16 years, including the development and

execution of 10 cultural exchange trips to Abidjan. Her role encompasses artist

coordination and welfare, communication with the Ivorian team, and maintaining

close relationships with all delivery partners across the UK and Côte d’Ivoire.

Charlotte Taylor, Operations Director and Co-founder of Djembe Kingdom

is both an experienced sustainability strategist and an active musician studying

West African arts. She oversees marketing and narrative development, audience

development and engagement.

To coin a phrase,

                            Promises Make           Prizes

We are offering incentives in return for your donations - you stand to win souvenir tee-shirts, shoppers, mugs and even hoodies, sustainably manufactured in the UK by Teemill 

You could win a copy of the Siniensigui CD featuring the band and Sidiki, worth £15, tickets to a concert, publicity for your company to be featured in our companion programmes,  or a Meet and Greet with these very special musicians from West Africa. 

But hey, if you aren't able to help financially, don't worry - please consider sharing this page, and giving your friends and followers a chance to join the challenge.

 Either way, we  value your support and thank you for helping to bring the dream to life.

                   SEE YOU AT THE GIG!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 16th September 2025 at 12:00pm