SNAP SHOT PROFILE
Name: Aboubacar Sylla
Place of Birth: Guinea, West Africa
Occupation: Muscian|Teacher
Welcome back to Miami, Brother Abou. What have you been up to? Thank you. Playing music, performing, dancing and traveling.
If you could only choose one, would you rather drum or dance, and why?
Dance, because I have already been drumming for a long time, that’s why I chose dance right now.
What is the Austin dance and drum community like?
It’s a medium size community. They like dance more than drum.
Flyer for 2018 trip to Africa
Who has been the biggest influence on your art?
My dad. [Aboubacar comes from a “griot” family of singers and musicians]
Tell us about your next trip to Africa? Where can we register to go?
One of the things that makes my trip different from others is that its flexible. If you sign up to go to learn dance for example and when you are there you change your mind and want to learn balafon for example, you can do that. My program is flexible in that way, you can dance, you can learn doundoun, djembe, balafon and also traditional singing in my language, Sousou. We are going to go to different villages, the beach, and visit different parts of the city, Conakry. And you will eat delicious home made african food. Everybody is welcome. You can look at the information in my website: http://www.syllamusic.com/trip-to-guinea/ and if you have any questions or want to register you can send me an email to: abousylla9@gmail.com
What made you decide to teach dance?
Because I have a group in Austin, I’ve been teaching them dance, what I know, and that’s why I started dancing more in Africa the last two years, to help them more.
Where would you like to be with your music five years from now?
I want to make a CD to show more people my music.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you when you were performing?
When we perform with my band and my people make some mistake or forget some arrangement, and I have to cover for them, that makes me laugh.
How old should children be to begin studying the drum seriously?
Six years old.
If you could perform on stage with anyone on stage, living or ancestor, who would it be?
I like to perform with people that know more than me, that way I can get more and more experience
Abou Sylla will teach a Guinea Dance and Drum workshop on Monday, January 29 at Inner City Dance Club, 3400 NW 7th Avenue, Miami 33127. Drum class is from 7 to 8 pm, Dance Class is from 8 to 9:30 PM. $15 per class, Free for children under 12. All levels encouraged. For more info contact 786 422-3707 or email wasanihouse@gmail.com