Beyond Tradition

Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm, is a percussion and vocal ensemble that explores the heritage and rhythms of West Africa, through original arrangements and compositions invoking ancient traditions of the drum. Inanna was originally created by the participants of a drum class in Alna, Maine almost fifteen years ago. Since that time, Inanna has recorded and released four full-length albums and has performed at numerous percussion festivals and community events. Four years ago, they started an annual tradition of inviting master drummers from around the world to perform and teach summer workshops here in Maine. Inanna is deeply dedicated to the education and cultivation of peace and sharing among cultures through the power of music. The ensemble plays African percussion instruments such as the Djembe, Kpanlogo, Doundounba, Kenkeni and Sangba, and other hand-crafted percussion instruments such as the Balafon (an African Xylophone), rainsticks, kalimba (thumb piano), shekeres and a variety of bells and other small instruments. The ensemble recently added frame drums which are found in almost every culture and are the ancient instrument of women drummers. As a group, Inanna members have studied percussion with Karamo Sabally of Gambia, West Africa; John McDowell of the Afro-jazz fusion group ³Mamma Tongue²; Yaya Diallo, master drummer from Mali and the author of The Healing Drum; Layne Redmond, author of When the Drummers Were Women; and Famoudou Konaté, one of the world¹s best known and recognized djembe players. Inanna takes their name from an ancient Sumerian goddess, who held reign more than 4,000 years ago during a period when it is believed that drummers and dancers were predominantly women. The ensemble chose the name of this ancient goddess to express their ties with earlier traditions.

Beyond Tradition