The WOMADelaide Foundation is offering six unique 75-minute music and dance workshops with Pedson Kasume (Uganda) to South Australian primary school students in Years 4-7 (ages 8-12) between 4 and 6 March at Gilles Street Primary School in the city.

Pedson is an accomplished musician and dancer who, since the age of 12, has been a member of the Ndere Dance Troupe, rising from the ranks to become one of their most valued teachers and performers in Uganda. He has travelled extensively in Africa, the USA and the UK, performing and teaching, and has appeared in several films made in Uganda. He specialises in playing a traditional instrument called the 'embaire', commonly known as the sacred xylophone of the Basoga people.

These exciting workshops will introduce students to the extraordinary musical qualities of the embaire, which is traditionally played in rural areas for wedding parties and other celebrations. This ancient instrument is several metres long and can be played by up to eight musicians at a time - the sound it produces is rich, powerful and hypnotic. The workshops will also give the children the chance to understand more about Ugandan culture and way of life through learning traditional dances.

At the beginning of each workshop, the children will be divided into two groups - half will be involved in a 30-minute percussion and embaire workshop with Pedson, the other half will participate in a dance workshop with his colleague Rodgers Ssekyewa. For the final 15-minutes of the workshop, both groups will come together to perform.

Teachers can find the booking form and further details here.