Guest Teachers
Amy Lusk
West African Percussionist
Amy Lusk has been performing West African percussion more than 30 years. Her love of the melodic, intricate rhythms of the Malinké people led her to travel to Guinea to study with drummers in the capital city of Conakry and inland outside of Kouroussa in Sangbaralla Village, in the Hamana region where the djembe drum and its orchestra were born.
Helen and Amy created Motherland Rhythm Community, a not for profit organization which is a person-to-person effort to expand educational opportunities and health services for children and families in Guinea. Motherland Rhythm Community focuses on cross-cultural connections and provides an opportunity to thank the Malinke people for sharing their rich musical and cultural tradition with people around the world.
Amy has been an avid musician all her life. She began her study of hand-drumming as a “stress release” from graduate school, but she soon found that the drum has become much more than a hobby. She currently is on a life-long journey to develop her knowledge, skill and repertoire in Malinké rhythms and songs while sharing the beauty and joy of this music through performance and teaching. She currently performs and teaches with Helen Bond and guest artist Fode Camara, as well as with Diamana Diya, an all-female group they co-founded, which translates to 'Make Good Music for the Land.'"
Fodé Camara
West African Percussionist
Fodé Camara is a multifaceted musician, artist, storyteller, and performer from Guinea, West Africa. Since 2006, he has been a visiting guest instructor with Medusa’s Musical Mysteries, touring the US and Canada to teach traditional percussion music from his homeland. As a skilled drum maker, Fodé crafts professional-quality African hand drums, including the goblet-shaped djembe and the barrel-shaped dunun, using natural materials.
A member of the Susu ethnic group, Fodé brings a unique and engaging perspective to his presentations and performances, sharing his culture and traditions, as well as his reflections on the benefits and challenges of growing up in West Africa. As an educator, he is known for his warm, easygoing, and approachable style, which encourages participants of all ages to immerse themselves in the traditional music and songs of Guinea. Over the years, Fodé has shared his expertise and infectious joy through performances and workshops at schools, community centers, and cultural events.
Fodé also offers presentations and shares his life stories through Motherland Rhythm Community, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering community and cross-cultural connections through hand drumming. He serves as the Project Director , on the initiative under Motherland Rhythm Community that provides charitable assistance in Guinea, focusing on education, healthcare, clean water, economic sustainability, female empowerment, and basic human needs. Additionally, he is a guest performer with the Diamana Diya performance ensemble.
Fodé finds great joy in witnessing the happiness of participants as they experience playing drums. He believes, "Music helps us forget our problems, create friendships, and heal. It brings everyone together, no matter where they are from."