Sidiki: The Pulse of Africa
As a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow (2007), founder of Afro-Jersey with singer songwriter Terre Roche (2008), protagonist of Alan Govenar’s documentary film, “You Don’t Need Feet to Dance” (2013), recording artist for Africa in New Orleans (2025), and recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship (2025), Sidiki continues to spread his art and optimism.
“When I sing and dance, I am a bright star on the stage, not a dark figure in a wheelchair,” Sidiki says, “When I teach, I help my students transform themselves, too. They become happy, free, lighter, and more confident. Their joy comes back to me, and assures me that my life has one purpose: to dance and teach.”
For the Opening Nights performance, Sidiki will be accompanied by celebrated African drummer, Abdoulaye Toure who has performed with the acclaimed with Guinea’s National Ballet Djoliba and is now resident musician for Princeton University’s West African dance classes.
Joining Sidiki and Abdoulaye will be members of Tallahassee’s Ayoka Afrikan Drum and Dance, a group committed to make African music traditions accessible to everyone. Like Sidiki, Ayoka believes that “Dance and drumming are more than just art forms—they are transformative tools for healing, joy, and community upliftment.”
In Collaboration With
