The Magic of African Rhythm
Artist Statement: Teli Shabu As the Director of The Magic of African Rhythm (TMOAR), my mission is deeply rooted in connecting and reconnecting individuals to the rich traditions of African culture and values. Through drumming, singing, dancing, and visual arts, I aim to build bridges that foster cultural understanding, pride, and creativity. Over the past 25 years, I've had the privilege of leading multi-disciplinary arts workshops and residencies across North Carolina, sharing the power of African rhythms and art forms with schools, community centers, and diverse groups of people.
Born in Liberia, West Africa, and having studied percussion and kora with masters across West Africa, my art is influenced by the rhythm, history, and traditions I encountered in my travels. I come from a family rooted in the performing and visual arts, which has shaped my creative journey from a young age. At 12, I began producing beats, writing rhymes, and performing, and over time, I have continued to channel my love of music and my personal philosophy that "rhythm connects all of us" into my work.
At the core of my approach to teaching and mentorship is the belief that music is a powerful force for unity and expression. I incorporate contemporary Hip Hop as a means of mapping the rhythms of African ancestors to the present day, fostering racial pride and cultural awareness in Black youth. My work is about more than just teaching techniques — it’s about creating spaces where history, identity, and creativity intersect.
In addition to my work with TMOAR, I am a storyteller in the Malinke griot tradition, a performer with Whistle Stop Tours in Durham, NC, and a trained bedside musician offering my music as a source of healing. I believe in the transformative power of music as both a cultural tool and a form of medicine. I am committed to nurturing the next generation of culture bearers through holistic drum education, ensuring that African traditions and values continue to thrive through the arts.
Assembly Performances: The Griot's Gourd
An interactive performance with storytelling instruments made from gourds. Through both traditional and original melodies, singing and dancing, The Magic of African Rhythm’s modern-day griots make connections between West Africa and North Carolina. Audiences are invited on stage to become part of the magic. Students will see, hear, and know for themselves that there is much more to Africa than just drums.
PRICING:
● $1,350 per one-45-60 minute performance
● $600 each for additional performances same location/same day (no more than 30
minutes between sets)Residency: Safari Ngoma
A 3 to 5 day multidisciplinary cultural arts safari of dance, drumming, and your choice of Adinkra textile, or storytelling. Workshops run concurrently and students rotate through all three art forms each day. The highlight of the experience is a culminating performance and the creation of an Adkinkra tapestry that your school keeps.
Add a performance to enhance the residency experience.
PRICING:
Five-day residencies: $8,450
Four-day residencies: $6,900
Three-day residencies: $5,400
Two-day residencies: $3,900
Number of days and classes are adjustable.Residency: Mini Safari Ngoma
A 1-day version of the 3-5-day Safari Ngoma. See above
Add a performance to enhance the residency experience.PRICING:
$2,650Residency: The Rhythm Is Gonna Get Ya!
In Africa life moves to the beat. Make rhythm the soundtrack of YOUR life. We begin by asking ourselves the question, What is rhythm? and discover the answer together, exploring sounds,
making noise, using stick drums, and hand drums. Through bodily kinesthetic rhythm and structured drumming, students realize rhythm is in us all.PRICING:
3 Day Minimum
150 per class per dayThree-day residencies
Three Classes Per Day: $1,350
Four Classes Per Day: $1,800Four-day residencies
Three Classes Per Day: $1,800
Four Classes Per Day: $2,400Five-day residencies
Three Classes Per Day: $2,250
Four Classes Per Day: $3,000Number of days and classes are adjustable.
Workshop: The Rhythm Is Gonna Get Ya!
A 1-day version of the 3-5 day residency. See above
PRICING:
1 Class $650
2 Classes $800
3 Classes $1,000
4 Classes $1,200Workshop: African Textiles - Visual Arts
Textile design is our most popular visual arts program. Whether Adinkra textile design from West Africa or the East African Kanga Cloth
PRICING:
1 Class $1,250
2 Classes $1,450
3 Classes $1,750