West African dancers & musicians to perform here

The Anacortes Arts Festival will be presenting a performance by The Kusun Ensemble on Friday at 7:30 pm at Brodniak Hall in Anacortes. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for children, available on brownpapertickets.com or at the door.

The Kusun Ensemble includes past members of the The National Ballet and The Pan African Orchestra from Ghana.  Although rooted in traditional music, the ensemble has developed a new brand of music and dance they have dubbed "Nokoko." They have created innovative rhythms and dances by fusing bass and lead guitar, electrifying jazz and African rhythms, and traditional hanaian instruments.

With headlines reading "Kusun Electrifies Frenzied Audience" and reviews proclaiming the Kusun Ensemble's sound as a "revival of a vital art," the band is now considered one of Ghana's most innovative and powerful music and dance ensembles. By blending the authentic sounds of traditional instruments with the exuberance of hilife music and the complexity of African jazz, they are developing a unique Ghanaian sound and bringing the tropical passion of West African music and dance to the world stage.

The Samish Indian Nation from Fidalgo Island will also be participating with a native welcoming ceremony preceding the concert.

This concert will be followed with free public multi-cultural arts workshops on Saturday, October 24th in Anacortes.  Workshops, including West African dance and drum, will run throughout the day starting at 9 am.  Visit the Festival website for locations and registration. Questions – call the Festival office 293-6211.