Le Ballet Dembaya study in West Africa

We are a group of friends who grew up together in Los Angeles, studying djembe music and dance our entire lives. We have so much love and respect for this craft and the cultures it stems from, and we are planning to take the next step in our journey. We didn’t know if it was possible until recently, but we will finally be making our voyage to the motherland as a group. Half of us are going this year, and the other half in 2024/25. We have worked hard all year, performing and teaching classes, to save funds for our trip to Guinea and Mali. While we have managed to cover a significant portion of our expenses (flights, room and board, passports, visas, vaccines), there are still so many costs to consider with international travel. Not to mention, we have a strong desire to financially support local artists and mentors as they enrich our studies with private and group lessons. Your donation will help with private lessons, renting rehearsal space, food, local transportation, medical supplies, any emergency funds, and ultimately you'll help us give back to our community and continue sharing and preserving the culture and history of our people.