Ablawa Reine Simply known as "Reine" by her friends, Ablawa Reine likes to say “my career is still blossoming,” but behind that modesty is an elegance as well as poise that is simply regal. She has a fascination with singing and dance and dabbles often into acting and modeling, but Reine says she derives her most kicks seated with notable traditional custodians in the villages around her hometown Ouida, about two hours’ drive from Cotonou. “I like all kinds of music,” she says, “ but the traditional songs touch my innermost soul as no other genre does.” The rituals, the ceremonials, the call and responsorials are among her staples. And she is quick to recount numerous childhood stories told by her grandmother and other elders in the family. “Much of my songs were learned in those formative years.”

Anicet Mundundu hails from Congo DR. A noted scholar of the performance practices of the Central African region, Dr. Mundundu generated much musical wave with several Kinshasa choral groups, before attending the University of Pittsburgh to complete his doctorate degree in ethnomusicology.

Felix Nassi was self-taught at his native Natitingou, Benin (West Africa), and has studied choral conducting in France with Stephane Caillat and Jacques Barathon and in the Netherlands with Jos V. Veldoven. He has founded and directed several choirs, the most well known being the Children's Choir of Benin, which participated in the World of Children's Choirs Festival in Vancouver, Canada, and recently returned this summer from a highly successful tour of Hong Kong and France. Nassi also created a new choral festival: Les Rencontres Polyphoniques du Benin. He currently divides his time between working with his three choirs at home and guest-conducting in Europe, America and Asia.  Felix is known for his devises with body percussion accompaniment, as well for his humor that has endeared him to audiences worldwide. 

Fred Onovwerosuoke's vast knowledge of many African singing traditions makes him one of the world's most consulted authorities on African choral music. FredO, as he is affectionately known to students and friends, was born in Ghana to Nigerian parents. He maintains an active schedule as conductor, lecturer, and presenter of African choral music, and has been featured at World Choral Symposium events, as well as the American Choral Directors Association, the Toronto International Choral Festival, the Coro Municipal Juiz de Fora in Brazil, among others. FredO has written extensively on African choral music and multicultural education, and is editor of the Voice of African Music, a quarterly newsletter published by the St. Louis African Chorus. He is loved by all who come in contact with him for his generous nature, zest for life and art, and deep appreciation for the musics of the world. FredO is equally erudite in Western and Classical music traditions and usually incorporates technical details about singing styles in his classes. His teaching style is interwoven with stories and deeply enriching African philosophy that is inspirational and accessible to all. He is fluent in French and several African languages, and travels extensively in Africa and around the world. Also read FredO: Portrait of an African Composer at www.africanchorus.org/fredo.htm.

George Mensah Essilfie is a contemporary Ghanaian composer. He won the World Peace Music initiative award in 1994 with his composition ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’. In 1996, under the auspices of the British Council, Ghana, he was invited by the British Choral institute to attend the Easter music school for Music educators in the U.K Mr. Essilfie’s compositions have been performed at Verdi Music festival in Berlin, Germany on several occasions. He has been a music educator for over 12 years. At the moment he works with Special needs children. He is the project coordinator and instructor in Music Technology for Marsh Farm Academy of Music and performing Arts. He joined the Osagyefo Theatre Company in July, 2003 as the Music Coordinator. He is currently working on ‘Rhythms Wonsuom’ a project to transcribe, arrange and record African rhythms for several African Instruments. His favorite African instrument is the ‘Gyile’. An African pentatonic instrument from Northern Ghana.

J. Bogadi Sefakho is a native of Botswana. World renowned dancer and choreographer, Sefakho  has trained and mentored many young people who have gone on to become seasoned artists and cultural activists. She has traveled extensively throughout the world, performing and conducting dance workshops in the USA, United Kingdom, Norway, Libya, China, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Kenya. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her for her commitment to the Botswanan song and dance traditions, a field in which she has fully focused extensive research for over four decades. She is founder  of the popular Botswanan dance troupe Ditholwana Cultural Ensemble, a group that embraces all of Botswana's ethnic dances and music cultures.

Joseph Muyale Inzai is founding artistic director of the Boys Choir of Kenya, a group that has been dubbed Africa's most dominant youth choral theatre by the Voice of African Music. Evidently one of the most performed of all Kenyan contemporary composers, Muyale began his career as assistant conductor and section leader with the famed Muungano National Choir of Nairobi. Muyale is also known for the collaborations he has formed with many of the world's leading exponents of African music and continues to extend opportunities of these collaborations to youth and children across Kenya. The Musical Arts Academy of Nairobi is his pet project and serves as an umbrella organization for the Boys Choir of Kenya, the Girls Choir of Kenya and the new Kenya National Youth Choir. J. Muyale Inzai is in much demand as choral trainer, clinician and cultural consultant.  

Joyce Adewumi is a singer, dancer, choreographer, and educator was born in Nigeria. She is one of the leading interpreters of African Art songs as well as an innovative choreographer of contemporary African dance. Ms. Adewumi is a music and dance scholar who brings her unique talents to the presentation of African culture to the World through dance, music, and drama. She has a deep and profound understanding of  the Yoruba and Igbo spiritual systems and languages and is able to bring that understanding through to the public with her skills as a singer, dancer, choreographer, music director and writer. In addition to her teaching and performing experiences in Nigeria, Ms. Adewumi was for many years a consultant and a panelist in the annual Children's Cultural Festival in Nigeria. In the United States, she has performed with The New Federal Dance Theater, and other dance groups. She has also worked as a dance teacher with Techniques Dance School, Children of Light Inc., Science and Technology Inc., and Alvin Ailey summer dance program.

Paa John has led the Winneba Youth Choir to international fame. Although trained in the classics, he is versatile in other genres of music, but has made his niche promoting the choral traditions of his native Ghana. A vibrant conductor, Paa John is simply fabulous with young people.

Sankung Susso hails directly from the legendary Susso family of Jalia (or griots). Thus his teaching style focuses on the praise-singing traditions of the Mandingo people. Sankung often conducts classes from his kora (a 21-string lute-harp instrument) and will also give lessons on demand.

Toko Kua-Nzambi from the Congo (DRC) has a dynamism that captivates both his performers and audiences with his maverick exuberance. Dr. Lupwishi Mbuyamba, UNESCO’s Cultural Attaché for Africa says of Kua-Nzambi: “when there’s music in the air, he is unstoppable!” He holds degrees and advanced certification in musical arts. For 22 years he has composed choral pieces, directed groups, lectured, and served as an independent columnist on music. He is member of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), the African Choirs Network, and other regional organizations. One of Kua-Nzambi's passions is to forge a unified front to promote African choral music. His festivals, now legendary for their size and scope, are testament to this drive, and attract participants from across Africa and Europe.

Weedie Braimah Born in Ghana, Weedie Braimah had his first drum before he turned 2, and hasn’t let the drums off his sight since! He has studied with every master drummer of note from Africa: Mor Thiam, Baba Camara, Mamady Keita, just to name a few. A maverick performer of the highest caliber, Braimah has an almost insatiable knack to draw the entire audience into his grove, zigzagging through Africa on a breathtaking rhythmic roller coaster.