Adult Saturday Drum Camp

8 Saturdays. One hour at a time. Build your rhythm.

Saturdays | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
September 12–October 31, 2026
Empowerment Center | Portsmouth, VA

Saturday Drum Camp is back for another season!

Whether you've never touched a djembe or you've been drumming for years, this is a place to learn, practice, grow, and experience the power of making music together.

Led by Djembe Fola Kam, each Saturday builds your skills through traditional West African rhythms, technique, call-and-response, listening, and ensemble playing.

Come for one Saturday—or experience what can happen when you keep showing up.

What You'll Build

Over the course of the season, you'll have opportunities to:

• Learn traditional West African rhythms
• Develop clear bass, tone, and slap technique
• Strengthen timing and rhythmic confidence
• Practice call-and-response
• Learn to listen and find your place within an ensemble
• Build endurance and coordination
• Learn about the rhythms and cultural traditions connected to them
• Experience the energy of creating rhythm with other people

No previous drumming experience is required.

Already have experience? Come deepen your technique, expand your rhythm vocabulary, and strengthen your ensemble playing.

From the Circle to the Stage

Drum Camp is about more than learning rhythms. It's about building them together.

Throughout this 8-week experience, participants who choose to perform will also prepare for a culminating performance during the Kwanzaa season.

It's an opportunity to take what you've practiced in the circle and experience what happens when those rhythms move to the stage.

Learn. Practice. Build. Perform.

Performing is completely optional. You're equally welcome to participate simply because you want to learn, strengthen your skills, drum with others, and enjoy the experience.

Your Investment

Choose the option that works best for you.

DROP-IN | $20 investment
Join us for one Saturday.
Need a drum? Drum rental is available for $5 per class.

4-CLASS PASS | $75 investment
Commit to four classes and build your skills with greater consistency.
Complimentary drum use during class is included.

FULL 8-CLASS EXPERIENCE | $150 investment
Commit to the full fall experience and build from week to week.
Complimentary drum use during class is included.

The Full 8-Class Experience is ideal for participants who want consistent skill-building and plan to prepare for the optional Kwanzaa-season performance.

Want the full experience but prefer to pay week by week?
You can. Simply register at the $20 drop-in rate for each Saturday you attend. The multi-class passes offer advance savings and complimentary drum use, but they are not required to participate throughout the season.

Don't Have a Djembe?

That's okay.

A limited number of drums are available.

Drop-in participants: $5 drum rental per class
4-Class Pass: Complimentary drum use included
8-Class Pass: Complimentary drum use included

Meet Your Instructor

Djembe Fola Kam brings more than 30 years of drumming experience in the United States and Guinea to the circle.

His teaching goes beyond memorizing patterns. Participants work on sound, technique, timing, listening, ensemble awareness, and understanding the cultural traditions connected to the rhythms they play.

Fall 2026 Drum Camp

Saturdays | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
September 12–October 31, 2026
Empowerment Center | Portsmouth, Virginia

No experience required.

Choose your investment. Reserve your place. Come ready to drum.

Learn the rhythm. Build the skill. Find your place in the ensemble.