About Us
Rhythm Maker was created by Jahman Sillah in order to provide West African and Afro-Brazilian percussion workshops for schools, community centres and corporate environments. The purpose of these workshops is to deliver a truly authentic experience which motivates and inspires participants.
All members of Rhythmmaker are fully CRB checked.
Rhythm Maker also has its own drumming school offering courses throughout the year and sells professionally made djembes, djun-djuns, balafons and cabassas.
Our vision
Rhythm Maker aims to promote a better understanding of the music of the African diaspora through percussion workshops and performances. We believe that learning is a lifetime process and that learning through African and Brazilian drumming provides participants with an enjoyable musical experience as well as a creative approach to understanding and embracing multi-cultural society. The unique collaboration of our artists aims to facilitate access to African and Brazilian drumming for schools, communities and corporate organisations by offering both under the same umbrella.
Jahman Sillah – Artistic Director
Jahman is one of the leading West African percussionists of his generation. He is a master djembe player, an expert in the traditional music of West Africa, and as a teacher and workshop leader he is always in demand. He has worked with many of Africa’s finest musicians including Les Ballets Africans, Bannah Konoteh, Fatala, Alalake, Alphonse Soumah and Siaka Demba Koyate. Since coming to Britain to take up his post of Artist-in-Residence at the Birmingham Conservatoire, he has led many workshops around the country. Jahman is also an accomplished bandleader and his band Jaantabi has earned widespread acclaim for it’s unique combination of traditional and modern music which they perform regularly at festivals and other venues throughout the United Kingdom.
Jacqui Holmes - Program/ Events Co-ordinator
Jacqui is a professional percussionist specialising in Afro-Brazilian drumming. She has spent many years researching a variety of different musical styles and techniques and has led many workshops throughout Britain at schools and community centres. Her work includes regular teaching in schools where she creates and teaches a piece of music to GCSE children to perform and enter for the ensemble part of their exam. She recently toured France with an Afro-Brazilian percussion and dance troupe and performs regularly with various groups.