About us
We are more than a drum and dance troupe; we are community.
Feel the spirit and joy of African music and dance.
Multi-national performance group.
Tiyumba Dance Company is headed by choreographer and master dancer/drummer Fatawu Sayibu, from the northern region of Ghana. We are a traditional West African Drum and Dance Company located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. We are a multinational performance group. Current members are from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and the United States.
Energetic and interactive performances.
Tiyumba African Drum and Dance Company regularly performs at schools, universities, theaters, festivals and cultural events throughout Minnesota and all over the U.S. Tiyumba, which means “let’s love them” in the native Dagbani language of Ghana, offers energetic and interactive performances that convey the beauty and history of African culture through traditional dancing, singing and drumming.
Joy from the African homeland.
We offer group classes and customized workshops in African drumming and African dance for all levels. We even offer family classes for children! Each year we sponsor a trip to Ghana, where you can hone your skills while experiencing the cultural heritage of this small West African nation. Whether you are watching a performance or participating in a class or workshop, Tiyumba will have you dancing, singing and feeling the same joy that drumming and dance instills back in the African homeland. Please join us!
What we offer.
Tiyumba Dance Company offers energizing performances at various cultural, community and private events for any occasion, including festivals, private functions, weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, schools and more. Audiences will enjoy the rhythm of African drum and dance and experience first hand the joy and unity it brings to the world!
To inquire about booking Tiyumba Dance Company to perform at your next event, please contact Fatawu Sayibu at Fatawu@tiyumba.org or by phone at 612-229-6614.
Workshops & Residencies
Drum, Dance & Family Classes
Direct Connection with Ghana
Performances.
The Tiyumba African Drum and Dance Company regularly performs at a wide variety of schools, universities, theaters, and cultural events throughout Minnesota and all over the U.S. Tiyumba which translates to “let’s love them” in the native Dagbani language, offers energetic and interactive performances that portray the beauty and history of African culture through dancing, singing, and drumming.
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7pm on July 14, 2023 - Dance at the Lake Festival, Lyndale Park Rose Garden at Lake Harriet, 4124 Roseway Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55409
2pm on July 15, 2023 - Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 55401
3:30pm on July 15, 2023 - Jordan Week of Kindness, between 30th and 31st Irving Ave North, Minneapolis
1:30pm on July 22, 2023 - Arvonne Fraser Public Library, 1222 4th St SE, Minneapolis 55414
Let your body tell the story while the spirit runs free.
Fatawu Sayibu
Artistic Director and Culture Bearer
Fatawu Sayibu is from the Northern Region of Ghana and comes from a drumming family; his traditional dances and use of the talking drum tell the stories of his culture, country, and people. Fatawu is a performer, a teacher, a choreographer and a mentor to the children in his community, as well as his students here in the U.S.
Fatawu Sayibu is a fiscal year 2023 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
