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MUSIC THAT MOVES
YOU
UBAKA
HILL Performer, Master Teacher
and Inspirational Speaker based in New York (USA). Ubaka
is an creatively authentic, energetic performer, composer, songwriter,
recording artist, public speaker, and teacher of hand drumming for
more than 30 years throughout the United States and other countries.
Ubaka says "my soul-vision is to facilitate and
inspire personal transformation, empowerment, healing and joy
with music that moves you".
Ubaka
creatively weaves percussion, poetry and song to inspire a positive
uplifting atmosphere for her diverse audiences everywhere she
teaches and performs. She performs solo and with her ensemble
RHYTHM DANCE, multi-instrumental and multi-cultural ensemble
of talented musicians.
Ubaka’s
music is unique and embraces many styles to create authentic,
melodic and rhythmic musical forms from sacred to secular, ancient
to contemporary. Her live performances and recorded music reflect
our expanding drumming traditions, beliefs and changing times. With
her vocals and spoken word poetry Ubaka’s instruments include
the Djembe, Ube, Conga and Ashiko drums, Didgeridoo, Udu, and
various percussion instruments.
Her primary focus as a teacher of hand drumming is to encourage,
motivate, empower and stimulate joyfulness. Ubaka creates environments
to reconnect with ancient wisdom and drumming traditions using
sound as a tool for personal transformation, healing and
celebration; to re-activate our relationship to rhythm and pulse,
to learn how to participate in community drum circles and group
music making; recognize ourselves as active participants on the
continuum of folkloric drumming and musical traditions; to foster
positive public recognition, awareness and appreciation of the
evolving women’s drumming culture. (Reviews)
Founder of the Million
Women Drummers Gathering Global Initiative (MWDG)
and the Drumsong Institute Museum and Archive of
Women's Drumming Traditions of women's ancient,
contemporary folkloric and contemporary drum and percussion traditions.
She is one of the co-founders of the Catskill Women's World Drum
& Percussion Happen'n. She is creator of the DrumMa
Award, which acknowledges women drummers who
are pioneers. Ubaka is also a member of the Advisory Council of
the Women's Leadership Center at Omega Institute, NY.
Ubaka
is a teacher who loves to teach. She makes learning the art of drumming
accessible to all who want to explore the language and power of
drumming. Ubaka has the ability to integrate all skill levels and
various drums into collectively creating and playing exciting, healing
and rejuvenating music. Drumsong
The Art and Spirit of Drumming workshops have also
included deaf/hard-of-hearing women and at-risk youth. Sharing her
joy of drumming, Ubaka founded and directs The Drumsong Orchestra
in performance with the participants of her Drumsong
Workshops. This has become her signature format of teaching
and performing. Hundreds have attended Ubaka's Drumsong workshops
and have performed and recorded with her.
Ubaka's
workshops are for people of all ages, various skill levels and
physical abilities including deaf and hard of hearing throughout
the US, including Hawaii, Alaska, and internationally in Canada,
Australia and Japan; at local, national and international music
festivals, community centers, healthcare facilities, holistic
retreat centers, coffeehouses, conferences and concert halls.
Ubaka fills any size venue with compassionate,
engaging, exciting, moving, contagious enthusiasm in both solo
and ensemble performances. Ubaka’s rhythmic and lyrical
ideas are not only inspired by her own personal stories but the
stories of many people. From street gatherings
to the bedside of the sick, in theater productions and coffeehouses,
concert halls, campuses and conferences, in healing circles and
ceremonies, with children and elders, Ubaka shares her resonating
voice and the voice of the drum for healing and joyful community.
(Reviews)
"Beyond
The Wind"
is the title of Ubaka's latest CD, featuring the ShapeShifters,
The Drumsong Orchestra, and guest women drummers and singers
from across the US. Her
other CDs are: "ShapeShifters" and "Dance
The Spiral Dance" both feature local New York area professional
drummers, musicians and The Drumsong Orchestra as well.
Ubaka enjoys creative collaboration with artists, musicians and
presenters; Vicki Noble, Aleah Long, Afia WalkingTree, Kay Gardner,
Randy Crafton, Judy Piazza, Elizabeth Lesser, Maria Breyer, Bev
Grant, Caru Thompson, Mosa Baczewska and Fre Atlast. She has recorded
with artists Alix Olsen, Shawna Carol, Xtine Baczewska the Spirit
of Life Ensemble and on other projects. (Read
More)
Ubaka has been interviewed and is quoted in
major holistic health and healing and leadership publications,
books, film and local news, academic research papers and documentaries
such as Eco Heros, The Chronogram, In The Footsteps of the Goddess,
Eden Built By Eves, The Courage To Be, Omega Institute Wisdom
Channel and Gathering of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers .
She is one of the artists featured in the award winning documentary
"Radical Harmonies."
She
has a natural talent for art and oil painting on canvas for
30 years as well . Her fine art oil paintings have been
sold, exhibited and made into prints and note cards.
She is a crafter of drum related arts & crafts and accessories.
(learn more)
The "Ubaka Hill Signature Drum
- The UBE ! " (oo-bay) - co-designed with and
hand-crafted by Raven Tekwe - Wing of the Heron Drums. The "UBE
!" drum is built based on Ubaka's specifications, inspired
by her Djembe from Mali. The name "UBE !" is Ubaka
and Djembe combined, a new name for a new drum. The "UBE!"
was presented to the world in 2003. The Ube ! drum is currently
out of production.
Ubaka has received awards and special recognition
for her leadership in the arts over the years. .
Sojourner Truth Community Arts Award (2015), Legends and Icons
(2015) Drum Magazine's national poll, she was voted 3rd as "Best
Workshop Facilitator" (2001). She received "Drummer
of the Year Award 2002 from The Voices of Africa Choral Ensemble,
Inc. In 2005 and 2006 she was given Honorary Citizenship
and Proclamation of "Ubaka Hill Day" by the City of
Harrisburg, PA and in 2007 by North Carolina.
Ubaka is an inspiration to many and she is
motivated and inspired to realize her life vision by many historical
and contemporary visionaries, artists, musicians and activists.
She is inspired by the life and work of Kay Gardner, Oprah Winfrey,
Maria Gimbutas, Baba Olatunji, Elizabeth Lesser, Dorothy Stoneman,
Bev Grant, Sarah Vaughn, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Vicki
Noble, Alice Walker, Lisa Vogel, Layne Redmond, Abby Lincoln,
Martin Luther King, John Coltrane, Sun Bear, Pharaoh Sanders,
Jayne Cortez, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Harriet Tubman,
Daoud Williams, Edwina Lee Tyler and the majestic natural beauty
of the Earth.
Concerts, Workshops and
Conference weavings have included, Women & Power, NY, Institute
for the Musical Arts,(MA), The Flurry (NY) Beloved Festival
(OR), Omega Institute (NY), Kripalu (MA), Harrisburg Arts Festival
(PA), Rowe Conference Center (MA), Gathering of 13 Indigenous
Grandmothers (NY), NY Open Center (NY), Miller Branch Library
(NJ), Born To Drum (CA), Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, Naropa
Institute (CO), Harrisburg Artsfest (PA), Clearwater Revival
(NY), Goddess Festival (NY), National Women's Music Festival
(IN), The Crossings (TX), Carolista Festival (NC), Women of
Wisdom Conference (WA), Sister Singers Conference (CA), Concert
of Colors (MI), Aeolian Hall CAN), Hollyhock (BC), Mountain
Moving Coffeehouse (IL) as well as in Australia, Canada and
Japan and South America.
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