Drumming News :
By Drumming News Network
Two independent yet seredipitous events organized to celebrate and elevate female drummers recently took place 1 week—and 2 continents—apart. The 4th edition of the Drum Queens Festival was held on August 17th in Lagos, Nigeria while the 2nd annual Ella Suena Summer Drum Camp took place in Pachuca, Mexico on August 23rd and 24th. Both the festival and the camp featured workshops and performances as well as informal interactions by professional and student drummers from each region.
Founded by Odebiyi Temitope (aka Topsticks), the Drum Queens festival continues to serve as a platform that empowers female drummers in a male-dominated industry. The event was hosted in partnership with Bishop Jedafe, Senior Pastor of The Breath of Life Ministry, whose commitment to youth empowerment and the arts resonates with the vision of Drum Queens Festival.
This year’s festival featured electrifying performances from talented female drummers, including a drumline showcase and a seminar led by Yamaha Drums Ambassador, Wale Adeyemi. Distinguished guests included music veterans, industry leaders and cultural influencers who came to celebrate and support the growth of young female musicians.
With nearly 200 women already on its platform, Drum Queens Festival is shaping the next generation of drumming talent across Nigeria and Africa. The Drum Queens Festival was proudly supported by Paiste Cymbals, Music Minds, MTD Global and The Breath of Life Ministry.
Organized and directed by Argentine drummer Cintia Concia, Ella Suena is another organization that advocates for young, female musicians. In addition to its many activities throughout the year, the organization’s Summer Camp is a 2-day event with workshops, classes, exhibits and individual demonstrations. This year the camp was sponsored by Yamaha, Shure, TRX Cymbals and She’s Got The Groove and featured a workshop by top Mexican drummers Elohim Corona of the popular rock band, Moderatto, and Leslie Pantoja (independent).
The Ella Suena camp was followed by the prestigious, public Ella Suena Drum Fest in the Chamber of Deputies at the national capitol building in Mexico City on August 25th. Press coverage appeared in several major LATAM media outlets:
In another happy-coincidence for drummers throughout the region, the Ella Suena camp was preceded by international drumming icon Anika Nilles’ standing-room-only masterclass tour in Mexico and Latin America.
The continued success of events like these and others highlights the strength, vitality and growth of girls and women in drumming as well as the ongoing need to support this growing community of players around the world.
