 Afia
Walking Tree
Spirit Drummer/Facilitator
". . . I have a strong belief that women
started drumming. To me, the way the drums are shaped has a
feminine feel to it. . . .The drum comes to us for reasons that
we can't think too much about. Her message far outweighs what we
can comprehend in the physical and the analytical sense. If we
stop and listen to the message as she speaks through our hands,
we will learn so much about ourselves and so much about our
Spirit and so much about the Universe. If we just stop and
listen to what she has to say, the lessons and gifts will
unfold, hundred-fold. No one of us owns these sacred tools; we
cannot claim them as our own, for they have their own voices and
embodiment of spirit. Learn to hold her rhythms inside our souls
and share it with the universe."
Soul Affirmationz is an eclectic arrangement
of drum-songs – a fusion of West African, Afro-Cuban and
Caribbean percussive traditions with hip-hop, R&B soul and
spoken word affirmations — all of which give voice to
Afia Walking Tree’s
expansive transcultural experiences.
With revolutionary lyrics, Walking Tree touches on healing,
passion, responsibility, self-affirmation and self-forgiveness.
Each song is unique and dynamic in form and content and the
album has many upbeat, danceable pieces.
Soul Affirmationz is the first release by
Afia Walking Tree
through Spirit
Drumz Productions™. Walking Tree is a brilliant triple-treat – a
singer, composer and percussionist – with stylish musicianship
that captures and holds your attention.
 This
journey through multiple music genres reflects
Afia Walking Tree’s
abilities to integrate affirmations with original drum rhythms
that are accessible to and can move a variety of audiences. She
skillfully plays more than 15 instruments throughout this
compilation of original music (including djembes, bongos,
congas, djun djuns, naked gourds, shekeres, bells, berimbaus and
other instruments) and captivates you with her beautifully rich,
sensual and patois-tinged voice.
Afia Walking Tree
is a world-class percussionist who was born and raised in
Kingston, Jamaica and is currently based in California. She has
been a member of various New York and California-based groups;
such as, Mother Spirit Ensemble, Ase Drumming Circle, Skin On
Skin and Drum For Joy!. A self-taught musician, Walking Tree has
also studied with many master percussionists of different West
African and Afro-Cuban traditions in New York and California.
She is joined on several songs by percussionist Brindle,
formerly of Pele Juju; percussionist Chris Kenney and vocalist,
Debbie Nargi Brown – all of whom are seasoned performers and
teachers in California and beyond.
Recorded at CS Audio Visual’s state-of-the-art studio in Santa
Cruz, California, Soul Affirmationz features the original music
arranged, directed, performed and written by
Afia Walking Tree.
CDs are available in many Bay Area stores and can be ordered
through Spirit Drumz.
Walking Tree gives extraordinary live performances, taking
audiences through a journey to affirm the soul with pieces that
offer opportunities for the audience to participate and rejoice!
She will be traveling nationwide to promote this release –
please check out Afia's calendar for tour dates and locations.
Bring Afia Walking Tree
to your community.
 Founder,
Executive Director, Lead Facilitator: Afia
Walking Tree,
M.Ed.
Spirit Drumz was founded in 1996 as a vehicle for
Afia Walking Tree
to synthesize
her talents as a leadership development consultant, educator,
African-Diasporic percussionist, motivational speaker and
ritualist. Walking Tree integrates her holistic approach to life
in affirmation-based transpersonal workshops and energizing
performances that empower the individual and community through
percussion, ritual and dialogue.
Afia Walking Tree
Spirit Drumz workshops and performances have been hailed
as innovative, joyful, constructive, inspiring and motivating
experiences! Jamaican-born and raised, Walking Tree has been
called, "one of the most dynamic facilitators we have seen in
action in a long time." Afia Walking Tree
celebrates the drumz as sacred transformative tools, fuses
traditional approaches with contemporary music forms and creates
hybrid sounds and lyrics that address present day issues of
social justice, healing and self-affirmationz. Her first solo
CD, entitled Soul Affirmationz is now available through Spirit
Drumz.
Source:
http://www.spiritdrumz.org/spiritdrumz/about_us.htm
http://www.harveymilk.org/spring2002/music/034.shtml
http://www.nectar-productions.com/frames/artistbios_art_02.html
Website:
www.spiritdrumz.org
|
™
Mama Souljourn
Ye Ye
