Biakuye Unity Ensemble

"Melorhythmic World Percussion"

Among the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa, Biakuye means unity. It is the spirit of unity that brings the American and African members of Biakuye together to perform "melorhythmic world percussion," uniting the cool sound of American jazz vibraphone, drumset, and electric bass with the melorhythmic richness of African marimba, kalimba, and hand drums.

Biakuye offers energetic concert programs, educational presentations, and workshops that engage audiences while providing education on African and American culture. The group's original compositions and arrangements draw on a wealth of American and African melodic-percussion traditions including the Ghanaian gyil, Ugandan embaire, South African kalimba, Guatemalan marimba, and United States vibraphone.

Mark Stone, an expert performer of global melodic-percussion, formed Biakuye in 1993. During the past thirteen years the group has actively spread its message of unity through performances at numerous festivals, art institutes, universities, and public schools. Highlights include performances at the 2004 Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Day of Music, the 2005 Tiny Tots Concert Series at Detroit's Orchestra Hall, the 2005 Detroit Festival of the Arts, and the 2006 African Xylophone Festival in New York City. The group includes master Ghanaian drummer Kofi Ameyaw, virtuoso American percussionist Roger Braun, and dynamic Senegalese bass player Issa Sall.