Family Day Monday
African Rhythms, Art and Music Festival
To celebrate Topographies, which explores the work of Montreal-based Congolese artist Moridja Kitenge Banza, the McMichael is pleased to present two days of art, music and dance that will bring to live the vibrant culture of Africa to Kleinburg. Families can enjoy hands-on art activities, guided exhibition tours of Banza’s work, musical performances, storytelling, and drumming workshops by acclaimed Western African artists currently living in Canada.
Programming offered in collaboration with the Batuki Music Society.
Monday,
February 19, 2024
Performance by Amadou Kienou at 2 pm
Drumming Workshop
(Registration required)
Activities and Workshops
Drumming Workshop with Amadou Kienou
Time: 12 pm
Location: Founders’ Lounge
Ages: 3 to 12
Limited availability. Registration required.
Djembe, the traditional West African drum is the main instrument favoured by Burkinabé performer Amadou Kienou. Join Kienou as he demonstrates the use of Djembe and other percussion instruments in this stimulating workshop examining the magic of polyrhythmic beats.
Storytelling Circle: Earth Treasure Hunt
Time: 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Location: Starting in the Grand Hall
Ages: 6 to 12
Silver, diamonds, and cobalt are sought after natural resources, leading some nations to rely heavily on their extraction. This practice enriches some nations while destroying others. Through the interpreting artworks on view at the McMichael, this storytelling session explores a timely question: What are the real treasures of the Earth? Are they precious stones and metals? Or is it the people and their cultural legacies?
Gallery Tours: McMichael Highlights
Time: 12:30 pm and 2 pm (lower level)
Location: Starting in the Grand Hall
All Ages
McMichael Highlights tours, led by an experienced docent, present carefully selected artworks to reflect the themes of the McMichael’s current exhibitions while tracing the story of Canadian art and culture.
Performance by
Amadou Kienou
African Songs, Percussion & Dance
Time: 2 pm
Location: Gallery 8
All Ages
Amadou Kienou is a descendent of Dafin people from the ancient Mandigo Empire, which part of the territory is known today as Burkina Faso. During his youth, Kienou went through a rigorous traditional training to become a griot, an oral historian, who through drumming, singing, and dancing brings to live rich cultural history of his people. Experience this electrifying musical performance adapted to the family audience by one of the most talented African composers, who’s also celebrated as the greatest Djembe drum master.
