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For�-Fot� brings thunder of drums Bob Pennell / Mail Tribune photo Ryan M. Camara leads a drumming circle, dressed in West African clothes and playing a drum imported from Guinea. He and the Ashland-based Company For�-Fot� presents master dancers from Guinea's National Ballet on Thursday. By DAMIAN MANN ASHLAND - A group of Rogue Valley residents has decided to follow the fiery beat of a different drummer. The beat they hear is the traditional "djembe" (drum) sound of Guinea in West Africa. The Ashland-based Company For�-Fot�, which means "black and white" in the Susu language of Guinea, already has taught 300 valley residents to thunder out rhythms on djembes made in Guinea. Now, supporters of this increasingly popular drumming method have decided to turn up the volume with the introduction this week of two master dancers from Guinea's National Ballet Djoliba. Instructor Ryan M. Camara, who moved to Medford from Los Angeles six months ago, said For�-Fot� was started to promote and retain the original rhythms and techniques of drumming and dance. "Every year I travel to Guinea," said Camara. "You need to learn about it from its origins." Camara also has brought For�-Fot� into Rogue Valley classrooms to give children a taste of these energetic rhythms. A little bit of Guinea will be on its way to Ashland this week when the two dancers, Nene Souman and Aboubacar Soumah, join the company for a benefit performance. Also on hand will be master drummer, M. Lamine Camara, who is originally from Guinea. Nicknamed "Dibo," meaning "rhythm devil," he will travel from Los Angeles, where he offers a similar drumming education program. Ashland and Los Angeles are the only two For�-Fot� organizations in America. The popularity of this drumming technique keeps growing, attracting people from Mount Shasta to Williams and as far away as Denmark and Michigan. Ryan Camara said that other drumming groups or circles tend to be disorganized, whereas he teaches people specific rhythms that are popular in Guinea. "The music and dance of the djembe ensemble continues to be one of the least understood and most misrepresented musical forms not only in Ashland, but throughout the world," said Camara. "I work with people to really break down the history of the rhythm and sounds." In West Africa, these rhythms have specific meanings and are used for weddings, welcomings, harvests, flirtations, funerals and even circumcisions. Much of the music also has been popularized in recent years, which has resulted in a corruption of the original sounds, Camara said. Besides learning traditional techniques, players in the drumming ensembles get an aerobic workout as they pound at an almost deafening beat during their practice sessions. "It's fun," said Sierra Stinson, 11, of Medford. "It helps you keep the beat better." "It's great learning more traditional djembe," said Paul Riley, 27, of Ashland. Gaelyn Larrick, who directs Global Community Rhythm and Dance in Ashland, said djembe drumming requires organization and cooperation. "What is really crucial to good drumming is listening to other people," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Drumming and dance A benefit performance for Company For�-Fot� will be held at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Mojo Cafe. Featuring traditional West African drumming and dancing, the performance will help pay the transportation costs for two master dancers from Guinea's National Ballet Djoliba. During the weekend of June 23-24, a master class workshop will be held at Southern Oregon University. For more information, call 488-3060. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.