"Gbozé," a West African dance and drumming troop based in Grand-Bassam, has agreed to work with Anansi clients teaching both traditional dancing and drumming. Whatcom students studied with the group of dancers pictured here in the fall of 2000 achieving impressive results. Although most of the members of "Gbozé" are from Soubre, located in the western part of Côte d'Ivoire, their dances are authentic traditional dances from various ethnic groups throughout Côte d'Ivoire. They are willing and happy to share them with you. Two weeks in Grand Bassam working with these dancers and drummers would be worth a trip to West Africa.

Rhythm and percussion are highly emphasized in African music. Polyrhythms (several different rhythmic patterns occurring simultaneously) are a predominant feature. Rhythm in African music has evolved to be much more complex than rhythm in Western music. Music once considered "primitive" by Westerners is now highly regarded for its rhythmic sophistication and complexity." For Brian Palmer's complete text on African music see the "African Art and Music" file in the WCC historical pages.

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