African Ensemble West African Music and Dance Ensemble in performance at the Opperman Music Hall 1997 Ama Aduonum, ensemble leader, is from Ghana. Here she introduces the group to the audience and tells the audience a story, as the drummers await thier queue. The entire ensemble perfoms an instrumental composition, with skin drums, iron bells, and gourd rattles.
Every member is required to dance.
It is not possible to fully experience African music without dancing. Many of the dances tell stories, and the choreographies are developed by Ama, herself an accomplished Ghanaian dancer. Another dance, other dancers. The gyamadudu drum is one of the bass drums of the ensemble. Ama keeps it all together with her handclaps and her smile.