Night of Museums - DjembeJAM! - Community music making with African drums
Night of Museums - DjembeJAM! - Community music making with African drums
The drumming experience on June 21 will be a special occasion honoring Mamady Keïta (August 1, 1950 – June 21, 2021), master of the djembe, the most widespread African percussion instrument. Since the late 1980s, Keïta played a pioneering role in spreading knowledge of the djembe and traditional West African rhythms through the drumming schools he founded around the world.
In the first part of the program, participants will warm up with exciting rhythm games, getting in sync with each other while playfully discovering the instruments of the drum circle and enhancing their ability to focus on the “here and now.”
The second part consists of a short, workshop-style session teaching a traditional West African Malinke rhythm, which will serve as the foundation for a guided community jam. The base rhythm will be held together by experienced percussionist friends, and participants are welcome to join in – with their own djembes or with extra drums provided by Ethnosound.
No prior musical knowledge is required – just good vibes, openness, and a willingness to listen to one another, all of which emerge naturally from the shared pulse of the drums.
The event will be led by Károly Fehér, accompanied by members of various Hungarian African drumming groups.
A programme at the House of Music as part of the Night of Museums.
This programme is a free event with the Night of Museums wristband.
About the Presenter
Károly Fehér is a percussionist, trainer, and educator, and the founder of Ethnosound, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. He has been playing the djembe for over 25 years, delivering interactive musical experiences and drum circles for children and adults alike, including disadvantaged youth, and organizing team-building sessions for companies and communities.
Through his efforts, numerous internationally recognized musicians, teachers, and masters have been invited to Hungary, enabling local participants to learn directly from them. In his programs centered around community drumming, he blends traditional West African rhythms with team-building, experiential education, and the liberating power of music. His drum circles offer participants the joy of collective music-making and the strength of emotional connection — even for complete beginners. For Károly, drumming and making music is a form of active meditation that helps him unplug, stay present, enter a state of flow, and experience a deep, shared joy that brings people closer together. “I owe enormous thanks to my teachers, from whom I’ve had the privilege to learn in person: Mbay Ndiaye, Abraham Kwabena Mensah, Mohamed Bangoura (Bangouraké), Ibro Fall, Abdoul Aziz, Mamady Keïta, Famoudou Konaté, Billy Nankouma Konaté, Harouna Dembele, Dartagnan Camara, Bibiche Sambou Toure Fakoly, Adama Bilorou Dembele, Boram Lee, Hiroki Murai, Michael Taylor, Bill Sceidt, and Varun Venkit. Special gratitude goes to Kelvin Kew, whose teachings and inspiration have guided me. He is the President and Certified Master Instructor of the international Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy.
Thanks to him, the knowledge and mission of the late Mamady Keïta live on through a professionally structured and systematic curriculum. It’s a great honor for me to study at the Academy, access this rich knowledge, share it with others, and contribute to Mamady Keïta’s mission to preserve this tradition.” The mission of Ethnosound is to make music and music-making a joyful and accessible experience for people of all ages and backgrounds, as early in life as possible. Beyond its many documented benefits, music fosters self-awareness and confidence, can heal, uplift, and bring people together. Through our work, we hope to help more and more people discover this treasure.
The Night of the Museums 2025 will take place on 21 June 2025 in Hungary, with cultural programmes, exhibitions, concerts, interactive events and many more surprises awaiting visitors to the country's biggest cultural event on this special summer night!
