https://www.benkadi.live/home daily 1.0 2021-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628743681152-WDIC3DT9L07X0WM2306X/benkadihorizontaltransparenthero.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628639744894-NQM9PRCJ5LEORC8X6CL6/map.jpg Home - Why A Program Focused On West African Culture? Can you answer these basic questions about Africa? What is Africa? How many countries make up Africa? How many people live in Africa? Where did all of humanity originate? Whether we are talking about the Africa of history or Africa today for many of us, our level of knowledge about Africa is minimal at best. Most of the 16 million enslaved people that were brought from Africa to America, Brasil, the Caribbean and elsewhere came from the countries of West Africa. West African culture has had an immeasurable impact on American culture and arts and recognition and appreciation of that influence is imperative. Knowledge of our own culture and heritage and respect for the culture and heritage of our friends and neighbors is essential in building collaboration and community. The answers are 1. A continent (not a country); 2. 54 (of the world’s 196) ; 3. 1.7 bil of the world’s 7.8bil. and 4. Africa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628549706175-3PWG1D7DQ9I48A6MV3KE/Screen+Shot+2021-07-29+at+10.37.31+PM.png Home - Benefits Of Communal Drum and Dance Stimulates creativity and self-expression Increases self-esteem and confidence Healthy exercise Develops cognitive skills - concentration, recall, pattern recognition, and coordination Positive impact on behavior and improves the state of mind outside of class Builds community Easy to start and lots of fun for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1630246404351-JW6L4X15335I9Z87WW98/20210826_101856.jpg Home - Why Bring Benkadi To Your Learning Community? There has never been a more important time to get together, break down barriers between people, and experience joy in our community Playing drums and dancing is an experience that has almost no barrier to entry and can be enjoyed by people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities. (including special needs). Arts education can make a dramatic difference in the quality of life and trajectory for success for students Traditional West African music and dance provides a positive African cultural experience and an entry point to African history, social studies, geography, and more. https://www.benkadi.live/our-team daily 0.75 2021-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628401781524-OV2UE9DBXW241SLMXFVL/20210726_111101.jpg Team - Our Educators Benkadi’s educators come from diverse West African backgrounds and have lived in the US for many years. They all share exceptional resumes as professional artists and educators. Most have decades of experience working across the globe both as performers on stage, theatre and in film as well as educators in schools, colleges and universities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628031863043-Q2WB8CTBKX06VPT6L7LM/LimonRootsAwardsCR.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628031883676-L8DWMVL5W576EL4S9IGP/Master-Balaphone-Muscian-Gnenemon-Soro-768x562.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628394276449-EOX63EP3ZTAXOFXYKMZS/8d1d10052c32ae75a0b131a43a45f7bf14f74800.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628395554041-4GNMZ1NZZI5YSBR6TQ46/20180609-Aimee-0081%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628395721749-KUGDCF5BKQMNK02QQRC4/Aboubacar.jpg Team https://www.benkadi.live/mission daily 0.75 2021-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628057577132-ISO6NU6Z72STQZ02VQIO/matthew-spiteri-AVkN4eZL4lo-unsplash.jpg Mission - Mission A precise English translation of the Bambara word Benkadi is hard to pin down. All of the approximate translations center around the positive nature of togetherness and people coming together. That spirit inspires our motto - Together In Rhythm What Benkadi does is simple but profound: Expands the availability of arts education in economically and socially challenged learning communities by removing obstacles such as access to instruments, top quality instruction and lack of budget. Changes the trajectory of students by developing learning skills, confidence, a sense of community and belonging. Expands knowledge and appreciation of Africa, African heritage and culture for people of all cultural backgrounds. Supports world class artists & educators in order to preserve and share their knowledge and talents. By increasing learning skills that can be applied throughout a student’s life and supporting excellent educators we seek to improve educational outcomes. The focus on West African culture increases cultural understanding and respect which in turn will lead to stronger communities. https://www.benkadi.live/benefits-of-benkadi daily 0.75 2021-12-05 https://www.benkadi.live/programs daily 0.75 2021-09-09 https://www.benkadi.live/partners daily 0.75 2021-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/334ae4cd-733b-4af4-8812-62422fd475b6/CP-Transparant+Logo+white.png Partners - Community Partners Benkadi is a project of Community Partners, a nonprofit fiscal sponsor and intermediary organization that provides us with administrative services, expert guidance, and the benefits of tax-exempt status. Community Partners is a nonprofit charity exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Checks should be made payable to: Community Partners for Benkadi . Your donation is only tax deductible if made to Community Partners for Benkadi, our fiscal sponsor and the tax-exempt entity. For more info on Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1628635934850-JX6V94S3LBQRO7UDTJ4B/90341123_241503486982233_8684814536150903533_n.jpg Partners - MOTHERLAND MUSIC The pre-eminent location for all things African percussion in Los Angeles since 1992. Motherland is the best place to get advice on, try out and buy great quality instruments and get repairs. You can take lessons at Motherland from Benkadi instructors and others and they even have a free drum circle on Saturday afternoons. Benkadi’s instruments are supplied by Motherland Music Motherland is located at: 601 N. Eucalyptus Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302 Phone: (310) 673-8000 https://www.benkadi.live/research-1 daily 0.75 2023-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1629921405258-6IC868ZR15FL6BZ5LNTQ/Kraus+-+Arguments+for+Music+Ed.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1629922623500-03KCXRH9I2W3W287UF9D/RCM.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1630362618378-WDNL1GRNR86TOB0PTZCD/Music-and-the-Brain-Kennedy-Center.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1630368679791-MWE7N3099Q65TA9IG8AX/dreamstimelarge_40426788.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1632691619152-QH32HDXU0ZNXP713SOUL/dreamstime_m_186895266.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1634065971319-I52I5VY3LBYUO5I1SKER/mamady+2.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1640965337130-PS7UM7X4WL4OTO4DQO9J/dreamstimemedium_36677671.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/1655248199983-S83BB0H13E8X9VD9C7L7/IMG_1114-1.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/4d0f9395-cb2a-4ff6-a273-5f74064dd1a9/YRBS_SM_2021-C_1080x1080_A.png Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60f4ab126ca8f727d704167f/0bb59877-9efa-4cfb-a9fa-4cade7603e95/Benkadi+Benefits.png Research https://www.benkadi.live/elders daily 0.75 2021-09-23