Sunday July 19th Sundiata Workshops details!
Spend Sunday July 19th with us as we continue celebrating Sundiata!
Sunday, July 19, we're offering four workshops led by incredible artists, educators, and culture bearers, each designed to deepen your connection to the epic of Sundiata and the legacy of the Mali Empire.
🎶 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Kora History & Sound Bath with Amadou Kouyate
Learn about the history and significance of the kora from a member of the renowned Kouyate Diali lineage before settling into a restorative live sound bath. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, journal, or anything that helps you relax and receive.
In Lee Theatre
👧🏾 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Storytime and Dance Children’s Class with Imani Amos
Young learners will explore the story of Sundiata through storytelling, music, and movement inspired by the traditions of the ancient Mali Empire.
In Lee Theatre
💃🏾 11:30 PM - 12:45 PM Traditional West African Dance with special guest from Chicago, Zenzile Fatou!
In Whitaker Studio
✨ 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Traditional West African Dance with our Artistic Directors Diadie Bathily and Rokya Ouattara!
In Whitaker Studio
🎟️ Pricing
• Online registration has closed
• Day-of registration is $20 per class
Location
Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center
1 Touhill Cir, St. Louis, MO 63121
Park in Lot K and enter through Lee Circle. We’ll direct you from there!
Our 20th Annual Concert is here!
Join us for our 20th Anniversary! UMSL Music presents Afriky Lolo’s Sundiata: The King of Mali, a vibrant West African epic where a once-disabled child rises through resilience and destiny to build a powerful empire!
Every history has its heroes. In West Africa, it is Sundiata!
UMSL Music and Afriky Lolo are beyond excited to bring this story to the Touhill stage for two nights!
Passed down for centuries through the voices of griots, musicians, and historians, the story of Sundiata Keita traces the extraordinary rise of the founder of the Mali Empire. Born under prophecy, Sundiata begins life unable to walk, facing doubt, hardship, and eventual exile alongside his mother.
Through resilience, spiritual grounding, and destiny, he transforms adversity into strength. As the sorcerer-king Sumanguru Kanté threatens the region, Sundiata returns to unite the neighboring kingdoms into a powerful force. His victory at the Battle of Kirina marks the defeat of tyranny and the beginning of one of the greatest empires in African history.
His story, preserved through generations, continues to inspire as a testament to perseverance, leadership, and cultural pride.
Afriky Lolo’s production brings this epic to life through a dynamic fusion of traditional West African dance, live drumming, and theatrical storytelling. Drawing from both historical accounts and mythic elements, the performance reflects the spirit of the griot tradition, where history and imagination intertwine to preserve cultural truth. Sundiata: The King of Mali invites audiences into a world of prophecy, perseverance, and triumph.
This milestone production is both a celebration of Afriky Lolo’s 20-year legacy and a tribute to the enduring power of African storytelling.
Join us Friday, July 17th and Saturday, July 18th at the Touhill Performing Arts Center for this unforgettable experience!