About Nations Rhythm Festival
Africa is the birthplace of rhythm. Rhythms born in African cultures have left the continent and gone out to enrich the entire world. Despite the popularity of rhythm festivals in the United States and Europe for decades, no such festival – dedicated to rhythm, exists on the African continent.
In order to showcase and celebrate these traditions that have contributed to the richness of music around the world, the Nations Rhythm Festival was created in 2023.
The Nations Rhythm Festival was designed to bring people from all around the world to celebrate the universal language of music. Different local and international artists are showcased in a celebration of culture and unity through performances, lectures and workshops.
More than music – attendees learn how drums and rhythm, some of the most ancient tools, are being utilized and applied in non-musical ways to enhance modern live.
Nations Rhythm Festival delivered Africa’s first rhythm festival on July 5-7, 2023 and attracted presenters and performers from around Nigeria, and from around the world. Over 100 people came to attend the inauguration of this educational and entertaining event. Attendees experienced presentations on local drumming and dance traditions, learned various percussion playing techniques, Drums Therapy & Drums Education with the Festival Director Peter Olalekan Adedokun and got to observe the centuries old craft of drum construction.
Foreign and local expert presenters were able to deliver in-person seminars on Rhythm Matrix of Therapy and virtual presentations on modern applications of rhythm-based programming for wellness and community building.
The inaugural festival was held at the Alliance Française Ibadan. The first festival included series of workshops, lectures and performances.
Presenters included: Jonathan Murray (USA), James Tyson (UK), Diane Roberts (Canada), Prince Choi (USA), Samskiddo (Nigeria), Hannah (Nigeria), Christopher Emmanuel & the Alajotas (Nigeria), Peter Olalekan Adedokun & Drumsvoice (Nigeria). There was also a stunning photography exhibition of over 100 photographs that captured a variety of drumming and dancing related images.
The 2024 edition of the Nations Rhythm Festival plans to expand our outreach to include drumming workshops at selected schools, colleges, juvenile correction centre & home for handicapped & disabled. Public lectures and experiential presentations will be conducted by different facilitators from abroad and from Nigeria. There will be a closing celebration which will feature different musicians, drummers and dancers as well as the performance of some of the workshop attendees.
Previous Years Event
Every year, we welcomed drummers and different artistes from around the world to Ibadan, Nigeria, for second edition of Nations Rhythm Festival, which featured a lineup of lectures, drum workshops and series of performances (virtual and in-person) from world-class drummers and artistes.The previous edition has a lot to tell about how this year Festival will look like.
Lekan Adedokun (Nigeria)
Pictures from the NATIONS RHYTHM FESTIVAL 2023 . Day 1 featured lecture on the Benefits of Drumming by Jonathan Murray (USA 🇺🇸) and Drums Therapy and Drums Education workshops by Peter Olalekan Adedokun (Nigeria)
Diane Roberts (Canada 🍁)
Day 2 featured lectures by Diane Roberts, How to Document Work of Arts by Ademola Origa (Nigeria 🇳🇬 )and Drums Therapy and Drums Education workshops by Peter Olalekan Adedokun (Nigeria)
James Tyson
Pictures from the NATIONS RHYTHM FESTIVAL 2023. Day 3 featured a short guitar performance and wishes from James Tyson (UK 🇬🇧) and Drums Therapy and Drums Education by Peter Olalekan Adedokun (Nigeria)
Jonathan Murray (USA)
Prince Choi (USA)
SAMSKIDDO (Nigeria)
Amb. Christopher Emmanuel & The Alajotas Dance Company (Nigeria 🇳🇬
Baba Adesanya Adeyeye (Nigeria)
