Wula Retreat 2025

This September 2025, I’m pleased to be returning for my second year as a faculty member at the annual Wula Drum & Dance Retreat!

I’ll be teaching alongside an amazing roster of drum and dance teachers from around the African diaspora and beyond. The focus of my classes will be the traditional West African flute known as tanbinfulé, or Fula flute. We’ll be learning traditional songs and melodies from the Malinké reportoire, many of which accompany the traditonal rhythms. I’ll have plenty of beautiful flutes from the Kassa Flute Co available for students, both to use for classes or to purchase and bring home.

About the Wula Retreat

Since its beginning, before the year 2000, the Wula Drum & Dance Retreat has grown into a vibrant annual gathering that brings together students, teachers, and peerformers from around the world to celebrate and study the rich musical and cultural traditions of the African diaspora.

Held in the serene setting of Iroquois Springs in Rock Hill, NY, just 90 miles from New York City, the retreat offers a full-immersion experience in drumming, dancing, and instrumental classes and performances. A vibrant cultural exchange — all surrounded by nature, community, and rhythm.

The Teachers

The Wula faculty features world-renowned master artists from Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, the Congo, Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the U.S. These teachers are not only brilliant performers — they are happy to generously share their artistry, stories, and deep knowledge.

Each year’s lineup includes drum and dance legends, beloved returning teachers, and fresh faces bringing new energy. Classes rotate daily, offering students exposure to a wide range of styles and teaching approaches. Learn who’s teaching this year at the Retreat here.