Inanna brings world rhythms to Wieden stage

    PRESQUE ISLE – The all-women drumming group Inanna – Sisters in Rhythm will make its fifth appearance at the University of Maine at Presque Isle at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, in the Campus Center.     The ensemble, which has been drumming together for 18 years, incorporates singing, drumming, other forms of percussion and dance into a festive, stirring show for all ages, according to Cultural Affairs Director Carol Ayoob.
    “We are so excited to bring Inanna back to Presque Isle,” Ayoob said. “Every time they perform here, they get audience members up on their feet, dancing in the aisles. If you’re ready for spring, come out to this show, let their primal beats wash over you and experience renewal.”
    Inanna 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. They use a wide variety of instruments including the Djembe, Kpanlogo, Doundounba, Kenkeni and Sangba, and other handcrafted percussion instruments such as the Balafon (an African xylophone), rainsticks, kalimba (thumb piano), shekeres and a variety of bells. They also use frame drums, which are found in almost every culture and are the ancient instruments of women drummers.
    Originally created by participants of a drum class in Alna, the group has recorded and released four full-length albums and performed at numerous percussion festivals and community events. Inanna takes its name from an ancient Sumerian goddess who reigned more than 4,000 years ago during a period when it is believed that drummers and dancers were predominantly women. They seek to evoke, in sound and dance, the whole range of emotions contained in every heartbeat. As a group and individually, Inanna members have studied percussion with Karamo Sabally of Gambia, West Africa; Aja Addy of Ghana; Cesar Granados of Cuba; and Ya Ya Diallo, master drummer from Mali and author of The Healing Drum.
    Advance tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students and are on sale at Morningstar Art and Framing. Tickets can also be purchased at the door the evening of the performance at $10 for adults and $5 for students.
    Admission is free for UMPI, NMCC and SAGE students.
    For more information about this event, contact Ayoob at 768-9462 or e-mail her at carol.ayoob@umpi.edu.