Mansa Musa Production at the National Thearter
Dzeŋ Nako Cultural Troupe started in 2009 and registered in 2010 as an African cultural drumming performing group in Accra, Ghana. The aim of the group is to use African cultural music to address mental health challenges, develop the socio-psycho skills of children, create happiness and entertainment, address climate change challenges and use music to educate members of society about the importance of sanitation.
It began with the founder, current Master Drummer, Edmond Hyde, who has vast experience in drumming, performing previously with groups such as the Ayekoo Drummers and has devoted this new phase of global art performance to the development of this brand and drumming group, Dzeŋ Nako.
The group is an affiliate of Musicians Union of Ghana, Center for National Culture, National Theater of Ghana, Ghana Dance Association, and the National Commission on Culture, Ghana.
The name ‘Dzeŋ Nako’ is a Ga word translated in English as “the day is still not over” which brings inspiration to the group to imply more time for everybody to brighten in their lifetime with the sound of drums to keep everybody awake and active. The troupe is made up 15 members including management and performers.
Leading members of the group, over the years, has performed previously with the Ayekoo Drummers at memorably-acclaimed events such as Montreux Jazz Festival (Montreux, Switzerland), Verona Jazz Festival (Verona, Italy), Rivertone Donau Festival (Straubing, Germany), Osangol Music Festival (Accra, Ghana), Afro-Pfingsten Festival (Zurich, Switzerland), Heritage of Africa Festival (Accra, Ghana), Sedartis Forum ft. Alina Amuri (Thalwil, Switzerland), Glarus Nord Festival (Glarus, Switzerland) and many others. International personalities like former FIFA President, Joseph Sepp Blatter, many others have enjoyed the performance of some members of the group.
What Dzeŋ Nako plays to its audience strongly can relief depression, lower blood pressure, enhance well being, increase energy and makes you feel the coolness or warmth of self-connectedness depending on the day. We make sounds a happy feeling.
● Lets play music & dance
● Music & dance is the soul
● Our culture, our music, our dance
Dzeŋ Nako is one of the residence groups in the country that has been centered at the national theatre for their creativity in music and dance education, coaching and performing.
One of the special drum that assist in making music dynamic and unique. It is mostly rhythmical music drum that makes Dzen Nako Group display the rich traditional Ga-dangbe dance Gombe.
This drum is as rich as its performances. It’s one of the traditional Ga-dangbe drums which brings the best sound of hope and releases unique melody that makes audience and performers relate. This drum is mostly used for teaching and performing traditional Ga-dangbe music and dance. Its use for the performance of the kpanlogo dance at the great Ga-Dangbe festival Homowo festival “hooting at hunger”.
It is an instrument use by our group to garnish our display and make it extra unique during performance.
The Classic Ghana Gyli (JEE-lee) series from Africa Heartwood Project offer a wide selection of beautifully made, great sounding xylophones, perfect for percussive improvisation. Hand-crafted in the style of northern Ghana and Burkina Faso, the Classic Ghana Gyli is built from timber, dried hardwood, goat skin, gourds, and rope. The sound quality is very rich and tonal, earthy and organic. The gyli is similar to the West African balafon, and is part of the xylophone and marimba family of idiophones. This xylophone features:
Random low to high tuning, in keeping with use as a percussion instrument, with pockets of pentatonic tuning.
Heat dried keys to help maintain tonality and prevent cracking.
Solid frame construction using hardwood, leather, and rope.
Gourds under each blade to amplify and sustain sound
Low notes rake upward to allow room for larger gourds
Two recycled tire-rubber mallets included with each balafon
The purchase of this product sustains livelihoods for cultural artisans in West Africa.
Very popular in traditional music from Ghana, the Fontomfrom Ensemble is used to communicate royal messages in Ashanti tribal settings, as well as to play some popular rhythms. The energetic poly-rhythms created with these drums can be extremely complex, and is usually very loud given the size and purposes of the drums. Our Fontomfrom Ensemble Sets are carved by Africa Heartwood Project artisans in Ghana, in sustainable, socially responsible circumstances. In addition to our satisfaction guarantee, here is what this ensemble set features:
Hand-carved using traditional tools and methods in Ghana, West Africa.
Red tweneboa wood, legally harvested and carved from a solid piece of wood.
Wood seasoned, oiled with shea butter and coconut oil, and sealed on the outside.
Shaved cow skins, woven using traditional peg fixing method.
Two Fontomfrom drums (15-17"x50-55") with vudetsi stands and curved sticks
Two Atumpan drums (12-14"x30-32" ) with curved sticks
Two Apentema drums (8-10"x20-22") with sticks
One Apetia drum (7-8"x19-21") with stick
Depending on location, drums will likely be palletized and shipped using a freight carrier. Please call for shipping quote. These drums are only available in complete sets at this time. Photos are representative only, so in-stock drums will vary to some degree in appearance and size.
The atumpan is the main talking drum of the Akan people. It is the most favoured instrument to play the bass part to accompany dancing. The atumpan is an open goblet drum on a base. It is played in pairs, usually by a master drummer using two angular sticks
The two atumpan drums are tuned to each other. The lowest tone is identified with the mother and symbolizes woman. The highest tone is identified with man. These two sounds are needed to send signals from one village to another. The Akan language is a bitonal language with a middle tone. The atumpan is therefore ideally suited to send messages.
The large Ghana djembe is fabricated with tweneboa
(« the drum tree »), a white wood from sustainably managed forests.
This djembe drum is best for djembefolas seeking a multi-purpose, versatile instrument, easy to play, and a very good value for the price paid.
Available in a wide range of dimensions, the Ghana djembe is suitable for beginning as well as advanced djembefolas.
Like all our Ghanaian djembe drums, each Ghana djembe is conceived by ghanaian craftsmen using local materials and traditional skills
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