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| Sohoyini’s numerous programs involve an immense amount of work by a diverse group of artists and staff, each bringing their own unique experiences and talent. Below find a list of our core group members as well as collaborators that travel to join us for large shows, workshops, and events |
| Sohoyini's Artists |
Awal Alhassan
Artistic Director and Lead Dancer
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Our artistic director, Awal Alhassan, has been an ambassador of the Dagomba traditions for as long as he can remember. Born into a traditional drumming and dancing family in Tamale, Ghana, he has spent his life devoted to the arts of his culture. In addition to his involvement in traditional ceremonies, he has also been extremely involved and passionate in helping to keep his traditions alive. He has worked with numerous performance groups throughout the world entertaining and educating people of all backgrounds in cultural diversity.
Awal is especially avid about exposing youth to traditions and culture at an early age. At home, he single handedly recruited at-risk youth from local schools and created the performance group, Zosimili. While keeping them out of trouble, this provided children with a community and purpose with which to devote themselves while maintaining cultural traditions that are otherwise in the process of being lost to the younger generation.
Now, Awal is more passionate than ever. He strives to create experiences for all communities through classes, residencies, performances, and tours to Ghana. In an increasingly disparate society, Awal feels strongly that it is more important than ever that while embracing our diversity, we connect with our roots.
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Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye
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A native of Zimbabwe, Lora is a local treasure of Shona traditional music and dance. She has resided in the Pacific Northwest since the seventies, and frequently performs sharing her energy for music and dance. She has been captivating American audiences with her cultural presentations in song, storytelling, music and dance from her native culture, the Shona People, and has been instrumental in the development of the Pacific Northwest African cultural scene. Her depth of experience is shared through stories about Zimbabwe and integration of music, dance and storytelling. |
Fatawu Sayibu
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Fatawu Sayibu is from the Northern Region of Ghana and comes from a drumming family; his traditional dances and use of the talking drum tell the stories of his culture, country, and people. Fatawu is a performer, a teacher, a choreographer and a mentor.
Fatawu enjoys performing at various cultural and community events, and showing his students how West African music and dance brings joy, creates peace, love and unity! |
Marletta Boyd, II
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Marletta has been performing since the age of 12 and teaching dance since the age of 14. She has a wide dance background, ranging from ballet and tap to salsa and Chicago two-step. After moving to Seattle she added West African dance to her repertory, and later traveled to Ghana to study with master teachers before joining forces with Sohoyini. |
Neindow Mashud
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Neindow worked with the Ghana National Dance Ensemble for several years whilst establishing the skills that have now earned him the recognition as a renowned master drummer. A specialist in Ghanaian rhythms and an expert in the Dagomba traditions, he now lives in the Northwest, teaching drumming and performing regularly. |
Mark Stojak
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Manimou Camara
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Manimou Camara is a master drummer and dancer from Guinea. Manimou specializes in several percussive instruments, including the djembe, dundun, sangban, and kenkeni. He is a member of the Kpelle people and Malinke ethnic groups.
Manimou Camara began studying the music and dance at the age of twelve. His primary education was spent with Sekou Dico Sylla, Karamoko Daman and the nationally recognized Ballet Saamato. |
Yaw Amponsah
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Yaw Amponsah comes from a musical family from West Africa in which he is at home in the world of rhythm. He makes very difficult rhythms seem very easy. A versatile player, he can play many styles of music from Ghana including Palmwine, Highlife, Odonson, Dagbani, Agbacha,
and Kpanlogo as well as music from African countries such as Mali, Guinea, and the Congo.
His specialty is the music of the multi-part percussion ensembles of the Asante people. Not only does Yaw know the individual parts that make up these powerful grooves, but he is a master drummer and knows the traditional talking drum language and proverbs that accompany each style of drumming. An incredible traditional African musician, he has also played other styles of music as well and has worked his drumming into Hip Hop, Rock, and Electronic music recordings. |
Shanetta Brown
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John Kessler
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Brett Benraven
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Danny Long
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Originally from Detroit, MI and now living in Seattle, Danny Long has an intense background in ballet, modern, and jazz dance. After touring with several groups and founding his own company, Danny is now teaching dance and interested in ways of integrating his extensive and diverse dance experience with traditional African movements. |
| Sohoyini Ghana's Artists |
Suale Seidu
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Issahak
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Issahak started dancing at the tender age of five under the guidance of his father, a locally recognized dance leader. Finding himself at performances consistently throughout his childhood, it was impossible for him to stay away from dancing himself. Through his father’s continued encouragement, he developed the skills that enabled him to perform for President Rawlings, at municipal ensemble performances, and with the Center for National Culture in Libya, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, and South Africa. In the past he has worked with the National Theater and UNICEF, and helped to train our very own Awal Alhassan.
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Rashid
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Semaela
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Dan
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Kalkua Mutalla
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Kalkua has been dancing and drumming since the tender, young age of four years. With both parents also professional dancers, it may have been inevitable. He furthered his skills with Awal and the Arts Center, and because of his incredible skill has been given the opportunity to perform with National Theater as well as numerous engagements in Burkina Faso and Togo. |
Wumbei
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| Sohoyini's Staff |
Muda Mohammed
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Muda began dancing and drumming with his primary school. He continued for several years until later realizing he enjoyed contributing in more ways than only being an artist. Since then he has worn many hats as a group director, singer, and MC. Muda recognizes the value in his culture, and has joined forces with Sohoyini Ghana in hopes that future generations do not lose what there forefather have left and continue to embrace their traditional culture. |
Tiyumba
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A newcomer to Sohoyini, Tiyumba joined the group in 2008. Eager to achieve his status as a master drummer and dancer, he contributes by making lots of loud noises, singing loudly, and shaking his groove thang. |
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