' Mukutano' means 'Join Together' in Swahili.
The Mukutano Singing and Drumming Group is a performance group based out New Westminster but has performers that attend from all over the Lower Mainland.
Members perform songs, dances and spoken word. They also learn how to play drums and other percussion instruments.
Originally funded as a 10-month project under the New Horizons for Seniors Program through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) in 2008. Under this project seniors from the African/Black community joined together with seniors from diverse ethnic backgrounds, children and youth - to form a drum circle and to perform traditional folk songs from Africa, The Caribbean and, African Diaspora.
One of the goals of the New Horizons for Seniors (NHS) initiative was to reduce social isolation. It was observed that within the African/Black community, men, women and children were united through music and dance, and it didn't matter how old they were. Other goals were to develop a choir and a dance group consisting primarily of mature adults over the age of 55. Although Mukutano is now self-funded, these goals still exist as the mandate for the group.
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