Columbia College Chicago Music Department Hosts West African Drummer/Dancer Fara Tolno May 16, 2013

The Columbia College Chicago Music Department welcomes West African drummer and dancer Fara Tolno as the department’s artist–in-residence, beginning April 1. Tolno will take part in workshops, master classes and classroom instruction during his three-week residency. He will return to campus for two performances at the Columbia College Chicago Dance Center on May 16 and 17.

Tolno was born in Guinea, West Africa and began playing djembe since the age of nine. Since, he has traveled extensively performing and teaching both drumming and dance. Fara spent nine years as the lead drummer for Les Merveilles de Guinea (The Wonders of Guinea) under the tutelage of West Africa’s most influential director and choreographer, Kemoko Sano.