West African Rhythm Ensemble

Carleton Music Program

Performers are members of the Carleton West African Rhythm Ensemble (WARE), one of several ensembles open to students in the Bachelor of Music Program, as well as other students across campus. The ensemble was founded in 2007 and provides participants an opportunity to develop a wide range of performance skills, as well as an understanding of aspects of African culture through the study and performance of West African singing, dancing and drumming. Repertoire includes both traditional and popular styles of music, such as Azonto, Highlife and Makossa. There are opportunities for many different skill levels to interact at once, providing an inclusive environment in which to explore connections to music and rhythm in a social setting. The ensemble regularly collaborates with guest artists for their performances.

This year WARE is under the direction of Stacey Can-Tamakloe, along with guest artist Dr. Benedictus Mattson. Stacey is a professional dancer and arts educator who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Ghana and an MA in Music and Culture from Carleton. Dr. Mattson is a choreographer, performer and researcher who recently completed his PhD, investigating the Mediatization of Ghanaian popular dance. WARE’s founding director is Kathy Armstrong, an Associate Professor in Carleton’s School for Studies in Art and Culture- Music program. In addition to her work at Carleton, Kathy regularly travels and hosts programs in Ghana where she has a three-decade association with the village of Dagbamete, in the Volta Region of Ghana. In 2013 and 2023 Kathy took Carleton students to study Urban and Rural Music Making in Ghana, through Carleton’s Institute for African Studies.