Rhythm makers dance to different beat

By   Ashley morales

The “djembe” drum beats and West African dance movements of Youl and Mina Diabate and the group Wara.ba are hard to resist. Their sound reverberates throughout the room, causing the audience to move in sync with the beat.

Wara.ba is headed by Youl Diabate. His wife, Mina, directs the dancers and accompanies him on djembe drums and the Guinean balaphon, or xylophone. Different musicians such as mainstay djembe drummer Masa, play with the group at varying times on such instruments as guitar, bass guitar and even the occasional saxophone. The group performs unique West African music with dance in various cafes and izakayas (pubs) on Okinawa.

The front man learned West African-style percussions (djembe) while growing up as Lamine Youl Diabate in Guinea; he has since mastered the instrument. Diabate also offers his own matchless style of singing along with his percussions, intriguing listeners everywhere.

Mina Diabate has not only honed her skills of West African dance, but uses her knowledge to teach others.

This past New Year’s Eve, Wara.ba drummers and dancers awed the audience so much at the newly opened Moon Terrace Café in Nishihara City that they brought the crowd to their feet dancing. 

“I enjoyed the show so much that it gave me the chills,” said one attendee who identified herself only as Rumi.

A week later, Wara.ba was at it again, performing with friend Osuman Orlando Bingle at the Happy bar on Jan. 8. Bingle opened by performing his Ghanaian-style “talking drum,” while the Diabates and Wara.ba closed the evening with four drummers, two guitarists, and the group’s dancers.

When the Diabates are not performing live, also they hold weekly dance and drum lessons in both Shuri and Yonabaru City. The Shuri classes are held in the evening at the Arte Sakiyama dance studio every third Monday (for beginners) and every Wednesday and Thursday. The Yonabaru classes are held every second and fourth Saturday in the afternoon.

For more information on Youl and Mina Diabate’s classes or performances, call 090-1059-7957, email <warabaoffice@yahoo.co.jp> or visit <uruma.ap.teacup.com/waraba>.