About Kadijah
Connections are what Kadijah is all about. Connecting generations by weaving heartbeats with drumbeats was Kadijah’s artful gift to me and my granddaughter at a moving workshop drumming circle. Connecting us in turn, to the wide circle of participants in a way that made us feel like we all spoke the same language... 
Anna Roch, drum circle particpant
K
adijah has taken a meandering journey through the arts having spent time singing, writing, and painting, but with perhaps her deepest passion resting in the realm of world music, and most specifically, hand drumming. Her drum journey began in 1985, in Toronto at an after hours club when she witnessed one man and his djembe, electrify a room of people. This man became the first, and one of many drum teachers for Kadijah with her most recent being Djembe master Famoudou Konate of Guinea, West Africa.
Kadijah's drum career started in a Kensington Market reggae band, where she acquired a wealth of experience playing for environmental, political and cultural events. She started to become aware of a phenomenon which continues for her today. Drumming has the power to transcend all boundaries. Invitations have come her way from African, Afro Cuban, Latin, Middle Eastern, First Nations and Jazz performers in the Toronto scene giving her a rich and sensitive awareness of the drum in cultural context. Eventually Kadijah's journey brought her to rural Nova Scotia where she became lonely for the multicultural drum experience she had taken for granted so she started a drum circle in Digby, Nova Scotia with hopes of finding new people to drum with. Her drum path continued with performances, workshops, and participation in a wide variety of community events often involving cultural or environmental awareness.
Kadijah is full of energy and puts her heart into teaching and drumming. Her drumming speaks volumes to the heart of the listener. Her enthusiasm has inspired me to want to learn more.Johanna Crinion, storyteller
Kadijah has taught ongoing classes in Clare, Digby, Annapolis Royal, and Bridgetown. She has given workshops in the library system, as well as Elementary and High Schools, Adult Schools, and Community Colleges. She as done in-service workshops with the Annapolis Regional School Board music teachers, also women’s gatherings, Girl Guides of Canada leaders, youth groups, private parties, individual and group workshops and events to honor Martin Luther King, and to celebrate African History Month. Kadijah also continues her personal performances as a singer, songwriter, and percussionist/drummer. Most of her performances include at least a handful of her students who also love to drum.
Kadijah believes, "Drumming is as essential to the human spirit as dance, song, prayer and meditation. Human beings have an innate need to come together and have group experiences that are transcending. Drumming is very much lacking in our culture but it is growing. If more people are drumming, and less people are fighting, the world will be a more joy filled place. Unnecessary boundaries would dissolve, permitting people come together as one!.
Kadijah is very honored to be one of the many people with the facility and desire to bring more and more people in touch with the drum and their own internal rhythm.
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