VOA Featured Members BIO

Nana Baakan Agyiriwah,
Managing Director/Founder
Nana Baakan has been singing, dancing and acting since she was a young child. She began the group in 1983 with her four children. She has performed with various groups, including, Women's Shekere Ensemble, Kulu Mele, African Dance Ensemble, Eleto Egbe Omode (a children's African Dance Ensemble she co-directed) and thousands of performances with The "Voices Of Africa" Choral & Percussion Ensemble around the country and abroad.
Nana Baakan is an Akan Priestess, entrepreneur, dancer, percussionist, singer, lyricist, choreographer, educator and seamstress. Major percussion training came from her teacher, Obrafo Kwabena Acheampong, formerly of the Arthur Hall Afro American Dance Ensemble; Nana Korantemaa Ayeboafo, Master Female Drummer, Ubaka Hill, Bobby Crowder (Master Drummer), Betty Alridge, Dancer, Chuckie Alridge (Master Drummer) and Elizabeth Sayre.
She also writes songs for the ensemble and arranges some of the percussion pieces the ensemble plays. Nana Baakan took the idea of "poly-rhythms" and applied them to the sakara drum, created a sakara drum battery and added the Sangba, a powerful drum usually played with in a djembe battery.

E-mail: nanabaakan@voicesofafrica.net

Thea Bashful, Dancer, Singer, Percussionist
Performed as a dancer, back up vocalist and lead vocalist in a litany of performances who is also credited for songwriting and vocal performances since 1987. She is a gifted, vivacious, talented, and inspirational performing artists.

Pre-Professional Training include: Deirdre Jefferson Robertson School of Dance - New Orleans, LA; St. Mary’s Academy – New Orleans, LA; New Orleans School of the Arts - New Orleans, LA

Professional Training include: Ballet Hysell - New Orleans, LA; Alvin Ailey American Dance Center - New York, NY. Performances include: BAM – New York, NY; Gemini Dance Co. – Buffaly, NY; Blue Mercury – New York, NY; New York City Church of Christ – New York, NY
Janet McDonald , Singer, Percussionist
Vocalist, percussionist, songwriter, arranger, and teacher. She has a degree in Music Performance from Community College of Philadelphia and has performed all over the United States with such internationally known cultural artists as The "Voices of Africa"Choral and Percussion Ensemble, The Women’s Sekere Ensemble and South African musician Mogauwane Mahloele, storytellers Kala JoJo Jeli and Momma Sandi, and jazz vocalist Owen Brown. Her love of the unadulterated sound of the unaccompanied singing voice led her to form the female a cappella ensembles, 4 Freedom and The Foundation Singers, the latter with whom sherecorded a critically acclaimed CD, The Foundation Rocks.e has continued to develop as a performing artist with her recent acting debut in Momma Sandi’s soul stirring autobiographical play, Stories from the Sister Circle. She is also featured on the sound track from that performance. Along with Momma Sandi she co-founded JUBALA.

Gina Ferrera. Gyil Player, Percussionist, Singer
Gina Ferrera began studying rudimentary drumming at the age of ten. While pursuing a degree in video/audio production, she was introduced to ancient African music. For the past eight years Gina has studied world-music and "ethno-musicology in New York City, Philadelphia, and made two independent research trips to Ghana to study gyil (xylophone) with Kakraba Lobi, Bernard Woma, and Valerie Naranjo. Gina is an American delving into the music of far removed cultures. In addition to researching and performing gyil music, Ferrera studies ancient Cuban, Nigerian, Ghanaian and Zimbabwean music, playing bata drums, shekere, congas, Shona mbira (thumb piano) and traditional Ewe drums. In addition to performing with "Voices of Africa" and directing her own "Gyil Fusion Project", Ferrera has also recorded and toured internationally (U.K., Europe, U.S., Scandanavia & Canada) playing drum-set, percussion and singing with Kokolo, Leana Song, Alokli Ensemble and Sunkwa.

Stacie Dandrea, Singer, Percussionist
I have been singing since the age of eight. I have performed with local choirs and several ensembles. I graduated from Coatesville Area Senior High School and took African Dance classes at Freedom Theatre. I have also sung with a few groups and recorded gospel CD’s. I received vocal instruction in high school and after graduation. I am often recognized for my strong second soprano/alto voice quality. Also, I love the bongos and in the near future will seek instruction on how to play them. My talent as a lead singer & back-up vocalist solidifies the musical styles that I have to offer.I believe that all cultures should protect their traditions by learning and promoting the old way of life in any way possible, and I would do this creatively with much enthusiasm as a cultural performer.

Zakiyyah McKelven, Singer,
Pioneer, Percussionist, Artist, Shekere Designer
Zakiyyah (also Nana Baakan's daughter) entered the group at the tender age of five. Initially a soprano terrified to perform, she has blossomed into a very talented professional percussionist and singer carrying the base run of much of the Group's songs. She is a fine artist, seamstress, drummer and budding entrepreneur. She has also performed as a dancer and is an outstanding artist who had her first art exhibit at nine years of age. She also custom designs shekeres. Check them out on www.myspace.com/shugamamashekeres

Jan Jeffries, Percussionist, Tap Dancer
Known as Ms. Rhythm Speaker, is unrivaled as a consummate percussionist. Jeffries, a long time resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, hails from Philadelphia, where she began her career of dancing and drumming at the prestigious Sydney School of Dance. A lifetime of studying rhythms from around the world has made Jeffries equally well versed on a variety of hand percussion and kit techniques. She is also an accomplished hoofer—tap dancer. This accumulated knowledge and diversity of experience has inspired Jeffries to develop her own interpretation and distinct style of her trademark, RHYTHM TAP— intricate footwork, creating a percussion instrument out of the dancer’s feet. Just as jazz vocalists add rhythms to music by scatting, tappers add their voice by “scatting” with their feet. Rhythm tap tends to be a heavier or harder-hitting form of tap. Sounds are made not only with the bottom of the shoe, but with the back, sides, and tip.

Kimberly Logan, Singer, Percussionist.
Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. Imagine inspiration being a person. Imagine it becoming music. Imagine having your own muse. Imagine no more. From being born and raised in Jamaica, moving to New Jersey and then to Philadelphia, it's safe to say that she has experienced rich culture. Born in Mandeville, Manchester (Jamaica) to actress/producer/humanitarian ricka Wilson and environmental engineer Courtnie Logan, Kim has always had a taste for the spotlight. Living in the country of one love, Kimberly learned the potency of music by listening to artists like Madonna, Bob Marley, Garnet Silk, and so on. After graduating from Highland Regional High in Blackwood NJ in 2000 and pursing a degree in MIS and a minor in Business from Drexel University, she fell into a depression and dropped out of college in 2004. Through facing her demons and overcoming depression, she found herself and by extension her purpose for this lifetime.

Dana Williams, Dancer, Percussionist, Instructor
Dana Alise Williams began her dance training the age of four. As a native Philadelphian, she was one of the last Massey’s babies and first L&L kids. She has attended various dance programs throughout the City of Philadelphia. Through her love of music and creative movement, choreography quickly became her favorite interest. Dana began teaching at the age of 11. In college, Dana was an active member of the Norfolk State University Dance Theater where she was able to travel throughout the United States and Caribbean to events such as Black College Dance Exchanges, Katherine Dunham Summer Dance Programs, and invitations to take classes and perform at many other universities. She also traveled to Santo Domingo and Sao Paulo, Brazil for educational and cultural study abroad. In her senior year, she participated and competed in several pageants, dance competitions and NSU’S Spartan Marching Band’s dance team.

Okomfo Adwoa Tacheampong,
Pioneer, Percussionist, Singer, Dancer, Actor
Adwoa, (Nana Baakan's Daughter) entered the group at the tender age of seven. Always singing and drumming, she advanced in her skill to demonstrate a natural talent for harmonizing and playing poly-rhythms. She is a composer, songwriter, poet, dancer, percussionist, seamstress, photographer, actor and artist and comes from a long line of creative and performing artists. She was the Musical Director of the group but is now expanding her musical studies to include Brazilian Percussion. Adwoa has written and composed many of the songs and percussion pieces the ensemble plays.
E-mail: Adwoa_Tacheampong@voicesofafrica.net

Okomfo Nyo Agyiriwah, Dancer, Percussionist, Singer.
Nyo has studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern and African dance for 20 years and has performed with manyce Companies in and around the Philadelphia area. Dance experience includes the Tri-State Ballet and Kariamu Asante & Company. She has served as dance coordinator and choreographer for the Sharon Hill Athletic Association. She has had extensive theater experience with her movie debut in Oprah Winfree’s "Beloved". Presently Akosua Nyo is moving into the position of Associate Member of the Ensemble after a period of being the Performance Arts Consultant.

Blanche Baxter, Percussionist, Singer, Artist.
Blanche has been a teacher/partisan of the Arts for many years. She received her Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Ceramics/Art Therapy in 2000 and has spent years teaching the Visual Arts to children. Her love of the arts includes music, written word, performing and the physical arts of martial art and dance. With VOA she has been given the opportunity to expand on her love of Music by combining a cappella song with the heart pumping rhythms of African Percussions giving her an outlet to combine all of her passions into one. Blanche brings an open heart and a joyous energy to everything she does.

Marcy Francis, Vocalist, Bassist, Percussionist, Instructor
Marcy has performed through out Phila., PA and the world as vocalist, percussionist and bassist. She's a teacher of the African Sacred Hand Drum, the Sekere; a vocalist with The Madonna Mamas; & founder & leader of Sisters of Compassion a female vocalist group that specializes in singing gospel and inspirational music. Marcy was a member and vocal coach for Women’s Sekere Ensemble, an African percussion group. Performances include the Smithsonian Institute, Lincoln Center in NY City, Phila. Art Museum, Odunde Festival, and various Phila. public schools universities, libraries, and churches. She has performed an opening act for Sweet Honey in the Rock and is the featured rap singer with the Cutaways, People of the Future album, 1990-1993, and the Gospel soloist on Tapping the Power Within, CD by Iyanla Vanzant, 1996. Marcy is an artist in residence with the Arts & Spirituality Center, leading workshops and performing in a variety of programs for youth and adults.

Other Performers Include: Tania Wallace-Bey Dancer, Singer, Percussionist: Anjail Abdul Badee, Singer, Percussionist: Karen Grant, Singer, Percussionist, Dancer: Karen Smith, Singer, Percussionist: Etta Purcell, Singer, Percussionist

www.voicesofafrica.net info@voicesofafrica.net www.myspace.com/voicesofafrica

VOA Featured Members BIO

Nana Baakan Agyiriwah, Managing Director/Founder Nana Baakan has been singing, dancing and acting since she was a young child. She began the group in 1983 with her four children. She has performed with various groups, including, Women's Shekere Ensemble, Kulu Mele, African Dance Ensemble, Eleto Egbe Omode (a children's African Dance Ensemble she co-directed) and thousands of performances with The "Voices Of Africa" Choral & Percussion Ensemble around the country and abroad. Nana Baakan is an Akan Priestess, entrepreneur, dancer, percussionist, singer, lyricist, choreographer, educator and seamstress. Major percussion training came from her teacher, Obrafo Kwabena Acheampong, formerly of the Arthur Hall Afro American Dance Ensemble; Nana Korantemaa Ayeboafo, Master Female Drummer, Ubaka Hill, Bobby Crowder (Master Drummer), Betty Alridge, Dancer, Chuckie Alridge (Master Drummer) and Elizabeth Sayre. She also writes songs for the ensemble and arranges some of the percussion pieces the ensemble plays. Nana Baakan took the idea of "poly-rhythms" and applied them to the sakara drum, created a sakara drum battery and added the Sangba, a powerful drum usually played with in a djembe battery. E-mail: nanabaakan@voicesofafrica.net Thea Bashful, Dancer, Singer, Percussionist Performed as a dancer, back up vocalist and lead vocalist in a litany of performances who is also credited for songwriting and vocal performances since 1987. She is a gifted, vivacious, talented, and inspirational performing artists. Pre-Professional Training include: Deirdre Jefferson Robertson School of Dance - New Orleans, LA; St. Mary’s Academy – New Orleans, LA; New Orleans School of the Arts - New Orleans, LA Professional Training include: Ballet Hysell - New Orleans, LA; Alvin Ailey American Dance Center - New York, NY. Performances include: BAM – New York, NY; Gemini Dance Co. – Buffaly, NY; Blue Mercury – New York, NY; New York City Church of Christ – New York, NY Janet McDonald , Singer, Percussionist Vocalist, percussionist, songwriter, arranger, and teacher. She has a degree in Music Performance from Community College of Philadelphia and has performed all over the United States with such internationally known cultural artists as The "Voices of Africa"Choral and Percussion Ensemble, The Women’s Sekere Ensemble and South African musician Mogauwane Mahloele, storytellers Kala JoJo Jeli and Momma Sandi, and jazz vocalist Owen Brown. Her love of the unadulterated sound of the unaccompanied singing voice led her to form the female a cappella ensembles, 4 Freedom and The Foundation Singers, the latter with whom sherecorded a critically acclaimed CD, The Foundation Rocks.e has continued to develop as a performing artist with her recent acting debut in Momma Sandi’s soul stirring autobiographical play, Stories from the Sister Circle. She is also featured on the sound track from that performance. Along with Momma Sandi she co-founded JUBALA. Gina Ferrera. Gyil Player, Percussionist, Singer Gina Ferrera began studying rudimentary drumming at the age of ten. While pursuing a degree in video/audio production, she was introduced to ancient African music. For the past eight years Gina has studied world-music and "ethno-musicology in New York City, Philadelphia, and made two independent research trips to Ghana to study gyil (xylophone) with Kakraba Lobi, Bernard Woma, and Valerie Naranjo. Gina is an American delving into the music of far removed cultures. In addition to researching and performing gyil music, Ferrera studies ancient Cuban, Nigerian, Ghanaian and Zimbabwean music, playing bata drums, shekere, congas, Shona mbira (thumb piano) and traditional Ewe drums. In addition to performing with "Voices of Africa" and directing her own "Gyil Fusion Project", Ferrera has also recorded and toured internationally (U.K., Europe, U.S., Scandanavia & Canada) playing drum-set, percussion and singing with Kokolo, Leana Song, Alokli Ensemble and Sunkwa. Stacie Dandrea, Singer, Percussionist I have been singing since the age of eight. I have performed with local choirs and several ensembles. I graduated from Coatesville Area Senior High School and took African Dance classes at Freedom Theatre. I have also sung with a few groups and recorded gospel CD’s. I received vocal instruction in high school and after graduation. I am often recognized for my strong second soprano/alto voice quality. Also, I love the bongos and in the near future will seek instruction on how to play them. My talent as a lead singer & back-up vocalist solidifies the musical styles that I have to offer.I believe that all cultures should protect their traditions by learning and promoting the old way of life in any way possible, and I would do this creatively with much enthusiasm as a cultural performer. Zakiyyah McKelven, Singer, Pioneer, Percussionist, Artist, Shekere Designer Zakiyyah (also Nana Baakan's daughter) entered the group at the tender age of five. Initially a soprano terrified to perform, she has blossomed into a very talented professional percussionist and singer carrying the base run of much of the Group's songs. She is a fine artist, seamstress, drummer and budding entrepreneur. She has also performed as a dancer and is an outstanding artist who had her first art exhibit at nine years of age. She also custom designs shekeres. Check them out on www.myspace.com/shugamamashekeres		Jan Jeffries, Percussionist, Tap Dancer Known as Ms. Rhythm Speaker, is unrivaled as a consummate percussionist. Jeffries, a long time resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, hails from Philadelphia, where she began her career of dancing and drumming at the prestigious Sydney School of Dance. A lifetime of studying rhythms from around the world has made Jeffries equally well versed on a variety of hand percussion and kit techniques. She is also an accomplished hoofer—tap dancer. This accumulated knowledge and diversity of experience has inspired Jeffries to develop her own interpretation and distinct style of her trademark, RHYTHM TAP— intricate footwork, creating a percussion instrument out of the dancer’s feet. Just as jazz vocalists add rhythms to music by scatting, tappers add their voice by “scatting” with their feet. Rhythm tap tends to be a heavier or harder-hitting form of tap. Sounds are made not only with the bottom of the shoe, but with the back, sides, and tip. Kimberly Logan, Singer, Percussionist. Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity. Imagine inspiration being a person. Imagine it becoming music. Imagine having your own muse. Imagine no more. From being born and raised in Jamaica, moving to New Jersey and then to Philadelphia, it's safe to say that she has experienced rich culture. Born in Mandeville, Manchester (Jamaica) to actress/producer/humanitarian ricka Wilson and environmental engineer Courtnie Logan, Kim has always had a taste for the spotlight. Living in the country of one love, Kimberly learned the potency of music by listening to artists like Madonna, Bob Marley, Garnet Silk, and so on. After graduating from Highland Regional High in Blackwood NJ in 2000 and pursing a degree in MIS and a minor in Business from Drexel University, she fell into a depression and dropped out of college in 2004. Through facing her demons and overcoming depression, she found herself and by extension her purpose for this lifetime. Dana Williams, Dancer, Percussionist, Instructor Dana Alise Williams began her dance training the age of four. As a native Philadelphian, she was one of the last Massey’s babies and first L&L kids. She has attended various dance programs throughout the City of Philadelphia. Through her love of music and creative movement, choreography quickly became her favorite interest. Dana began teaching at the age of 11. In college, Dana was an active member of the Norfolk State University Dance Theater where she was able to travel throughout the United States and Caribbean to events such as Black College Dance Exchanges, Katherine Dunham Summer Dance Programs, and invitations to take classes and perform at many other universities. She also traveled to Santo Domingo and Sao Paulo, Brazil for educational and cultural study abroad. In her senior year, she participated and competed in several pageants, dance competitions and NSU’S Spartan Marching Band’s dance team. Okomfo Adwoa Tacheampong, Pioneer, Percussionist, Singer, Dancer, Actor Adwoa, (Nana Baakan's Daughter) entered the group at the tender age of seven. Always singing and drumming, she advanced in her skill to demonstrate a natural talent for harmonizing and playing poly-rhythms. She is a composer, songwriter, poet, dancer, percussionist, seamstress, photographer, actor and artist and comes from a long line of creative and performing artists. She was the Musical Director of the group but is now expanding her musical studies to include Brazilian Percussion. Adwoa has written and composed many of the songs and percussion pieces the ensemble plays. E-mail: Adwoa_Tacheampong@voicesofafrica.net Okomfo Nyo Agyiriwah, Dancer, Percussionist, Singer. Nyo has studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern and African dance for 20 years and has performed with manyce Companies in and around the Philadelphia area. Dance experience includes the Tri-State Ballet and Kariamu Asante & Company. She has served as dance coordinator and choreographer for the Sharon Hill Athletic Association. She has had extensive theater experience with her movie debut in Oprah Winfree’s "Beloved". Presently Akosua Nyo is moving into the position of Associate Member of the Ensemble after a period of being the Performance Arts Consultant. Blanche Baxter, Percussionist, Singer, Artist. Blanche has been a teacher/partisan of the Arts for many years. She received her Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Ceramics/Art Therapy in 2000 and has spent years teaching the Visual Arts to children. Her love of the arts includes music, written word, performing and the physical arts of martial art and dance. With VOA she has been given the opportunity to expand on her love of Music by combining a cappella song with the heart pumping rhythms of African Percussions giving her an outlet to combine all of her passions into one. Blanche brings an open heart and a joyous energy to everything she does. Marcy Francis, Vocalist, Bassist, Percussionist, Instructor Marcy has performed through out Phila., PA and the world as vocalist, percussionist and bassist. She's a teacher of the African Sacred Hand Drum, the Sekere; a vocalist with The Madonna Mamas; & founder & leader of Sisters of Compassion a female vocalist group that specializes in singing gospel and inspirational music. Marcy was a member and vocal coach for Women’s Sekere Ensemble, an African percussion group. Performances include the Smithsonian Institute, Lincoln Center in NY City, Phila. Art Museum, Odunde Festival, and various Phila. public schools universities, libraries, and churches. She has performed an opening act for Sweet Honey in the Rock and is the featured rap singer with the Cutaways, People of the Future album, 1990-1993, and the Gospel soloist on Tapping the Power Within, CD by Iyanla Vanzant, 1996. Marcy is an artist in residence with the Arts & Spirituality Center, leading workshops and performing in a variety of programs for youth and adults.
Other Performers Include: Tania Wallace-Bey Dancer, Singer, Percussionist: Anjail Abdul Badee, Singer, Percussionist: Karen Grant, Singer, Percussionist, Dancer: Karen Smith, Singer, Percussionist: Etta Purcell, Singer, Percussionist
www.voicesofafrica.net info@voicesofafrica.net www.myspace.com/voicesofafrica