PENCHMI: THE AFRICAN DANCE + DRUM PORTAL ft OUMY MBAYE + OFELIA BALOGUN

Join us next Saturday 19th October for a Special Edition of Dembis Thioung’s PENCHMI: The African Drum + Dance Portal at PECKHAM LEVELS in collaboration with the LITTLE BAOBAB.

Immerse yourself in the rhythms and movement of  Africa while nourishing your soul with the finest Senegalese food. Hosted at Peckham Levels, this unique experience will be led by master drummer Dembis Thioung, along with dance movement artists Oumie Mbaye and Ofelia Balogun—offering a transformative journey through drum circles, traditional & contemporary African dance, and the power of the ancestral technology of the rhythms.

The word PENCHMI (in Wolof is written as “Penccmi”) is used to describe the gathering of ancestors, transcending time and space, as well as the gathering of the elders of the traditional Senegalese villages, in the center of the community under a baobab tree. Penchmi is the space to discuss matters of LIFE, FREEDOM, and PEACE. Most importantly, it serves to remind us of the LOVE and RESPECT shared among each other.

Dembis takes pride in being guided by the highest Senegalese value of "TERANGA": welcoming, sharing and supporting each other in happiness always, valuing wealth not for its quantity but for the generosity extended to others. "TERANGA" represents the essence of Senegalese culture and it can be translated with the word hospitality.

✨TENTATIVE SCHEDULE✨

(reality only happens in divine time)

12pm Welcoming + Greetings + Registration

12.30pm Get Together &  Warm up

1pm  Drum circle with DEMBIS THIOUNG - Rhythms of Gratitude & Unity (£15.55). Drums will be provided, participants are encouraged to bring their own. 

2.30pm  Traditional West African Sabar + Djembe dance languages led by OUMIE MBAYE (£15.55) and Dembis Thioung & participants that prefer drumming, holding the rhythms. 

4pm Dance Your Roots: Connect with inner body wisdom & open up the expressions of your ancestral corporal archive led by OFELIA BALOGUN (£15.55) with Dembis Thioung & participants that prefer drumming, holding the rhythms. 

5.30pm PENCHMI DRUM + DANCE PORTAL: Expressions of Freedom in Magical Rhythms of Unity (£11.11 - FREE ACCESS for those that booked all day bundle)

7pm Finest Senegalese soul food at LITTLE BAOBAB restaurant across the hall + SOCIALISING (Check prices & menu on www.littlebaobab.co.uk. Book your food on arrival recommended)

9pm FAREWELL 

✨ENERGY EXCHANGE✨

- Each session £15.55 

- Penchmi drum + dance portal £11.11 (Free for those that book all day)

-  All day Bundle = £41.11 (exclusive of food, inclusive of PENCHMI portal)

***Limited number of concessions available in exchange of energy for the production of the gathering. 

Family friendly event. KIDS ARE ALWAYS FREE

LITLLE BAOBAB food not included. Book your soulful selected dish in advanced directly from the Senegalese restaurant on arrival so that you can enjoy it at the end of the day. The restaurant is based across the hall on the same floor in the food hall. 

Donations are welcomed and appreciated. This and all DEMBIS THIOUNG events are independently funded, made possible through organic partnerships with various organizations, venues and artists, as well as the generous contributions of the participants. We warmly welcome donations to help sustain our commitment to keep bringing PENCHMI to our communities. THANK YOU!

✨DEMBIS THIOUNG✨

Dembis is a mesmerizing master of the dunduns—the melodic and hypnotic bass drums that constitute the heartbeat, melody, and soul of traditional West African ensemble djembe music.

A Bayefall at heart and a Griot by blood, Dembis was born and raised in Dakar, West Africa he is now based in London, UK. Introduced to traditional and contemporary Senegalese music at a young age, he learned the art of drumming and dance.

Recognized as a skilled percussionist specializing in Dundun, Djembe, Sabar, and Asico drums, Dembis proudly identifies with his Senegalese legacy, carrying forward the teachings of his elders and ancestry.

DEMBIS is the Gatekeeper of THE PENCHMI portals and the visionary and initiator of the BENE TALLY BAND project.

BENE TALLY is the name of Dembis Thioung's neighborhood in the heart of Dakar, Senegal, literally translated as "ONE WAY" or "one road."

BENE TALLY band & friends, a self-funded project initiated in October 2019, is a collective of artists bringing the magical rhythms, heartbeat, and spirit of Africa to the UK. It has performed in venues like Hootenanny, Peckham Levels, The Tabernacle, The Post Bar, Folklore and Kindred Studios

Rooted in the dundun drum and West African traditions, the band blends Dembis' Griot and Bayefall heritage, fostering creative collaborations between dedicated and regular PENCHMI Dundunfolas attendees and master African artists.

This transformative journey invites all beings present to participate, connecting individuals and communities through rhythms and movement, offering the healing benefits of African ancestral wisdom.

Every portal, every gathering, is unique and magical.

✨ OUMY MBAYE ✨

Born and raised in Bene Tally, a vibrant neighborhood in the heart of Dakar, Senegal, Oumie Mbaye is a proud member of the Wolof ethnicity and a celebrated artist in traditional Sabar and Djembe dance. With deep roots in Senegalese culture, she channels the rich heritage of West African dance, bringing both tradition and innovation to her performances.

Oumie was a key performer in the renowned Ballet Sinomew, based at the Blaise Senghor Cultural Centre in Dakar, where she honed her skills and became known for her captivating performances. She later expanded her international reach as a lead member of the AFRIKA! AFRIKA! European tour, showcasing the beauty and spirit of African dance on global stages.

As a talented choreographer, Oumie blends the rhythms of her heritage with modern interpretations, creating powerful expressions of African movement. Beyond dance, she is also a skilled fashion and hair stylist, drawing from her cultural background to create unique and vibrant looks that celebrate African identity.

Based in the north of England, Oumie is available for her excellent braiding and hair styling services whenever she is in town. Contact her for a quote and to book her services. 

IG: @oumy.mbaye + Email: mbaya611@gmail.com

✨OFELIA BALOGUN✨

Ofelia Balogun from South-Italian and Yoruba  ancestry is a movement artist, choreographer, and educator. 

Her practice focuses on the intersection between vocabulary originating from the African and Caribbean diaspora to dance theatre and social change topics.

She has worked in Senegal, Italy, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Wales.

She recently toured her work TIDAL with Welsh dancer Kim Noble, a collaboration that explores the parallelism between Celtic and Yoruba goodesses of the sea and the role of the feminine in contemporary society.

The project toured the 4 nations. 

www.ofeliabalogun.com

✨MAITE_BELOVED✨

I’m Maite, and my name means "Beloved" (Be-love’d) in Basque, the language of my great-grandparents. I proudly carry the same name as my loving and inspiring mother, who is always with us in spirit, and we have passed it on to my most beloved daughter, NdayeThioro Nina, in Wolof. Born by the Mediterranean Sea and currently based on the British Isles, I am a former international film licensing and distribution executive with over 20 years of experience in international film finance, marketing, and festivals.

After a transformative personal journey, I shifted my focus to align with the energies of my life partner, Dembis Thioung, a masterful Senegalese drummer dedicated to preserving traditional African rhythms and spreading frequencies of unity, love, peace and joy through this ancient technology. Honouring our ancestors through his work, he brings innovative and inspiring sounds to everything he does. As his producer and manager, I handle visibility, community communications, and invite all to gather.

Passionate about nature, ancestral traditions, and creative expressions, I am now exploring new opportunities to be of service to heart-centered, soul-led projects that elevate the frequencies of freedom and connection for all.

IG: @maite_beloved

✨WHAT TO BRING TO PENCHMI?✨

Drums will be provided, participants are encouraged to bring your own favourite percussion instruments. Dress comfortably, ready to move, dance, and celebrate. All levels, backgrounds, faiths, and ages are welcome. Earplugs recommended for sound sensitivity. 

Finest soulful Senegalese Food provided by Little Baobab, based across the Peckham Levels hall,  available. Booking in advance in arrival recommended. 

✨WHAT DO YOU EXPERIENCE AT PENCHMI?✨

We will come together through the unifying power of the drums.

We will embody the original vocabulary.

Then, we will go inside of our bodies, we will express what it is to be there.

At PENCHMI, we will share it full power and free.

We will gather, we will nourish our bodies and see off until the next one, in peace & happiness.

PENCHMI is a safe space to express your soul's dance moves alongside live drumming. Embody traditional and new rhythms, improve your drumming & movement language, and gain confidence in dance solos, all supported by the circle. Connect to ancestral wisdom through sound and movement.

✨STAY CONNECTED✨

If you have any question you can email us at dembis.thioung@gmail.com

Would you like to join Dembis Thioung's open Whatsapp group and receive updates on his workshops, gigs and connect with the community? Join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CJkAcvfpWxqAeHW3piBSk9

You can also follow us on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE