Njacko Backo

African Voyage/ Voyage Africain

In this interactive performance, students will learn the important role that music, dance, and storytelling play in everyday life in Cameroon, Central Africa. Students will experience traditional dance and drumming, listen to a traditional story, and learn about the importance of community. This program demonstrates to the students the true way that traditional music is played in Cameroon; percussion is not just about drums; it includes a variety of instruments. The students will learn that this traditional music is made up of different parts that have to be played together. Each person has to learn how to respect the other parts and find their own place in the music – because that is what makes music clean and sweet.

Blank
Booking Details
School In-Person & Virtual Performance Fee: $670 + HST
Audience Size: 300/500
Virtual format: fully live
Grades: K - 12
Language: English, French, bilingual
Availability: year-round - now booking into late spring
Curriculum Connections
Equity and Inclusion
Well Being
French Education
Cross Curricular Connections
Experiential Learning
Teacher Resources
English Study Guide
French Study Guide
Requirements: Njacko's performance requires a large table, four chairs without arms, and a microphone.
About Njacko Backo
Entertainer, musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, author and educator Njacko Backo shares his uplifting music, energizing dance, and hope-filled stories with audiences of all ages and all walks of life. Born in Cameroon, musically and spiritually Njacko draws on the lessons he learned in Africa from his musical family, mentors and village life. Although he loved life in the village where he was immersed in music, his dream was to discover the world and to learn all he could about people and different cultures. Njacko left home at the age of 17, eventually landing in Europe, and then Canada. Njacko moved to Toronto in 1998 where he recreated his band Kalimba Kalimba. Since that time, Njacko has grown his band’s sound to include a world flavour by blending traditional instruments (kalimba, djembe, ngoni, balafon) with more modern sounds (bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, accordion, flute, drum kit, cello, bagpipes, sitar, dilruba, grand piano, oboe) and other traditional percussion (bata from Cuba, tabla from India, udu, cajon)