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Paul Osei Kofi
Percussionist, teacher and drum maker from Ghana,
West Africa
"Drumming and music have always been around since
my childhood. I grew up with traditional musicians
and started performing at the age of nine alongside
my uncle, master drummer Wofa Kessie. We performed
at ceremonies such as birth, marriage, name giving and
initiations as well as cultural festivals. In
Africa, drums are used in all important aspects of daily
and spiritual life. They are considered tools of communication
and are believed to have healing powers. The drum becomes
alive when played, as The Creator gives life to the
drummers!"
Since arriving in Perth in 1989, Paul has taught and
performed African rhythms in a large number of primary
and secondary schools in the Perth metropolitan area.
He has also traveled to the Kimberley and eastern regions
of Western Australia, conducting workshops for Kulcha,
the Department of Multicultural Arts and Healthway.Paul
is well known for his work with schools, local communities,
festivals and corporate events.
Paul played as the lead drummer with the dynamic African
group Dagomba Ensemble and has performed with many respected
artists including Suliman Keita, Charles Amoh, Kojo
Owusu, Ossibisa and Michael Franti and Spearhead. Paul
was a founding member of WAADA. The group changed
their name to Akwaaba meaning welcome in his native
language of Ashanti.
FRIENDS
OF AKWAABA........
Alex Koresis
Percussionist
Alex studied drums under the guidance of Don Santin
and performed in funk, rock and big band ensembles throughout
Melbourne. Since moving to Perth and meeting Paul
Osei, he has developed a healthy addiction for West
African rhythms and percussion. Alex is a key
player in Akwaaba, the resident percussionist at the
Llama Bar and founding member of The Hybrid Collective,
a contemporary world music ensemble based in Perth.
He has developed a modified drum kit combining African
and Western percussion instruments and is working on
fusion projects with local artists in Western Australia
that combine traditional and contemporary music styles.
Warren Harvey
Percussionist
Warren started his musical career at Perth Modern School
in 1988, studying classical percussion and drum kit.
As a youngster, Warren was drawn to rhythm, beats and
interacting in an ensemble environment. He featured
in the high school concert band and participated in
the orchestra and school choirs. Warren went on
to study music at the WA Academy of Performing Arts.
After completing an Associate Diploma of Performing
Arts (Jazz Major) in 1994, Warren became involved in
the Perth music scene. Now an active member of
Akwaaba, Warren is a formidable djembe player and accomplished
percussionist.
Jonathan Knispel
Percussionist
Jonathan started playing African music in Adelaide,
performing Nigerian rhythms with Sam Oshodi and the
African Tribal Messengers. After moving to Melbourne,
Jonathan fell in love with the djembe and the music
of Ghana and Guinea. Tuition from Simon Fraser
and a chance meeting with Mohamed Bangoura, one of Australia's
foremost African percussionists, took Jonathan on a
journey to Guinea to study djembe. On his return to
Australia Jonathan settled in Perth where he met Paul
Osei who continued to teach him African drumming and
invited him join his new band WAADA. The name
of the band changed to Akwaaba, and Jonathan is still
playing, smiling just as much as usual.
Colin Depeiza
Percussionist
Hi, I'm Colin from Barbados, West Indies - de land
of cricket. Music has always been in de blood.
My surroundings included luscious beaches, coconut and
mango trees, sugar cane and de best Pina Coladas on
God's earth! I am married to a beautiful English
lady (Alison) who brings out de best in me. I was
over de moon when I came down under and found a vibrant
African drumming group in Perth. Paul Osei encouraged
me to get back on de beat and now he's become my brother
and friend, along with de others. My dream for
de group is that Akwaaba goes on to bigger and better
things in de future and we stay united as one forever.
Veronique Thomann
Dancer and choreographer
Veronique discovered African Dance in her native Paris
where she learned from Senegalese teacher Ana Camara.
She then moved to Guadeloupe in the Carribean and continued
her training there for the next five years. Whilst
in the Carribean, Veronique learned traditional dancing
(Gwo'ka) as well as a fusion of caribbean/ african/
contemporary dancing. Since arriving in Australia,Veronique
has developed her skills as a choregrapher and performer
in African Dance. To expand her source of inspiration
and knowledge of various styles of African dancing,
Veronique continues to attend workshops in Australia
and overseas with master dancers from West Africa.
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