Established in 1997, African Drumming has become Australia’s trusted name in West African music.
We are dedicated to sharing the music and culture of West Africa in all that we do: through instrument making, workshops, study tours, and performances.
Drop in and say ‘Hi’ in person, or drop us a line to connect.
Livin’ for the Rhythm,
We believe in uniting cultures through the power of music.
The drum does not segregate or judge; it is a unifier and a panacea for body, mind and soul.
The traditional rhythms of West Africa contain a magic that touches all who open themselves up to their offerings.
The music can sooth and ignite, calm and energise, transport and ground. It can be a complex conundrum and the simplest modality all at the same time.
Education
In 1998 we decided to take African Drumming into new areas.
We believed the rhythms would stimulate both mind and body while serving as valuable learning tools for school students.
This vision continues to shape our work today, with education programs that bring drumming into classrooms as inspiring cultural experiences, carrying lessons beyond the music.
Wellbeing
The evidence for the positive benefits of African drumming continues to grow, and we love seeing how it helps build healthier, happier individuals and teams.
Just as important, our mission is grounded in sharing West African traditions while creating spaces for people to come together.
In recent years we’ve expanded this vision through our Sonora sound healing studio, and an ever-growing range of sound healing instruments from around the world.
From gongs and singing bowls to shamanic frame drums and chimes, sound healing instruments have expanded the ways we bring people together through sound.
Sound healing opens fresh pathways for people to experience the restorative side of music, sitting alongside our drumming and cultural programs as part of a shared story of creativity, community, and wellbeing.
Giving Back:
Dream Big Ghana Collaboration
We’ve partnered with Dream Big Ghana, a Ghana-based NGO registered in the UK.
Based in the Volta region, DBG has been running a highly successful sanitation project for over a decade. We came on board near the beginning, raising funds in Australia through our student concert nights and raffling djembes.
So far, we’ve helped build two toilet blocks, giving dozens of locals access to safe sanitation, who would otherwise be using the bush.
The latest initiative is an Education Centre. African Drumming is proud to have supported it by donating funds for books and a set of drums for the ongoing Traditional Music program – designed to keep the roots and musical culture alive.
When Dr. Dawn Joseph joined our Spring Drum Retreat, she described feeling a true “shared energy” that happens when people come together through African drumming.
Participants described feeling a sense of belonging, being part of something ancient, and experiencing genuine connection beyond rhythm.
Her study showed how our drumming community welcomes people, with respect, cultural understanding, and wellbeing all growing naturally through making music together.
Alongside African Drumming, we created our sister Bashiri, to bring a little piece of Africa into everyday life.
Bashiri’s range includes Bolga baskets, handwoven in Ghana from sustainable elephant grass, each made by talented weavers.
You’ll also find African masks, statues, and art. From market baskets to colourful woven designs, every piece is beautiful and rooted in tradition.
If you enjoy what we do, you might like checking out Bashiri and seeing the amazing work of the communities who create these pieces.
African Drumming Australia was founded by Simon Fraser, a Melbourne-based percussionist whose passion for rhythm began in early childhood.
Inspired by his mother’s ex, a DJ with a love for tapping out beats, Simon started playing drums at age two and went on to study rock, jazz, and funk before discovering hand percussion.
A transformative four-month study trip to Ghana in 1998 introduced him to the deep cultural significance of West African drumming.
Over the next decade, Simon returned to Africa multiple times, studying with master drummers across Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Senegal.
Immersed in traditions from tribes including Ga, Ewe, Dagomba, Malinke, and Wolof, he performed at ceremonies and festivals, gaining first-hand insight into the role of music in community life.
Driven to share this culture in Australia, Simon established African Drumming Australia as a centre for West African music and dance.
We celebrate the rich traditions of West African drumming and the instruments that bring them to life.
Djembes are at the heart of what we do, with their deep cultural roots and powerful, versatile sound. Dununs (also called duns) create the foundation in an ensemble, working alongside the djembes to build layered, driving rhythms.
We also love our talking drums, known for their ability to mimic speech and share stories through music.
Tuned percussion such as balafons and marimbas add melodic depth, while instruments like congas, bongos and cajons bring extra colour and variety.
We’re passionate about making music accessible to everyone.
Our Indo range is designed for all ages and is popular with beginners who are just starting their percussion journey.
Alongside that, our wide selection of bells and shakers caters to musicians, educators, and students, so there’s something for every skill level.
Over the years, our collection has grown beyond West African percussion.
We now offer a beautiful range of Middle Eastern and Latin percussion, as well as an ever-expanding sound healing collection.
Our teaching draws from the traditions of many West African cultures, from the Mande to the Ewe, Dagomba, Ga, and Wolof. These musical lineages are woven into our classes, performances, and tours, keeping the spirit of the music alive while sharing it with new audiences.
Our journey began with African drumming, which taught us how rhythm can shift energy, connect, and open new ways of learning.
This experience shaped how we approach sound healing today – with an understanding of sound not just as therapy, but as a cultural and communal experience.
At Sonora, our sound healing studio, people are invited to immerse themselves in this vision first-hand, exploring rainsticks, handpans, shaman drums, gongs and more, in a space designed for listening, play, and reflection.
There are lots of ways to get involved with African Drumming in Australia and New Zealand.
You might join our regular djembe classes, try your hand at Middle Eastern percussion, or come along to one of our retreats in beautiful locations.
We also run facilitator training and professional development sessions for educators or practitioners who’d like to share drumming in their own groups.
In schools and kinders, our workshops are hands-on and full of energy, with a focus on wellbeing. They give students a chance to be creative, improve focus, and enjoy making music together.
However you join us, we’re happy to have you along!
Grab a seat and let’s make some music.
Get in touch with our team for personalised advice. We’re known for our quick replies!
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