BEMIDJI — Master drummers Fode Camara of Guinea and Helen Bond of Illinois are enjoying their time in Bemidji bringing drum lessons to the community.
This Friday, Aug. 22, they will lead a workshop and jam session at the Headwaters Music and Arts.
This event was put together by Mary Mitchell. Last year, she attended a conference where Bond hosted a drumming workshop and was so impressed, she knew she had to bring something like it to Bemidji.
Thanks to some grants and Headwaters Music and Arts being a fiscal sponsor, Mitchell was able to raise enough money to bring Bond and Camara to Bemidji.
Bond and Camara have also been at the Boys & Girls Club of the Bemidji Area all week with drum workshops. They introduce kids to drumming techniques and play on drums Camara made.
The pair have been touring together for 20 years, working with schools and doing artisan residences. Camara has made and played drums since he was 18, while Bond became interested after visiting Guinea for a month and fell in love with the music.
The workshop and jam will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, and it is free to attend by anyone. People do not need experience to participate and instruments will be provided.
“Everybody can come and add their unique voice to it,” Bond said.
Bond describes the atmosphere of these events as pure joy. It’s a chance for people to leave their problems behind and enjoy the music by living in the moment.
While the event is free, people are asked to RSVP on the Headwaters Music and Arts website.
Bond is part of Motherland Rhythm Community, which is a nonprofit organization that builds and delivers biosand water filters to transform contaminated water into clean, drinkable water. Bond will present 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Headwaters Peace Center, 1826 Mikrantip Road SW, about the organization's efforts.
Listen to the full conversation with Bond and Camara, plus a drumming demonstration above.
