.png)
RECLAIMING HERITAGE. BUILDING RESILIENCE.
-
Cultivating leadership and healing through the power of West African Manding traditions.
A Manding Percussion & Mentorship Residency
Oakland Young Masters Program
Presented by Afrique Sogué, this initiative utilizes the West African djembe as a tool for neurological regulation and trauma-informed mentorship for male youth ages 8-14. By bringing a "Mobile Rhythmic Lab" directly to school campuses, we eliminate transportation barriers and provide high quality engagement during high-risk after school hours. Our mission is to foster a "Drum Brotherhood" that builds impulse control and cultural pride through technical mastery of Sousou and Malinke traditions.
A Legacy of Resilience
The djembe is more than an instrument; it is a sacred tool of the Manding Empire, used for centuries by the Sousou and Malinke people to preserve history and foster social cohesion. In West African tradition, the drummer is a Cultural Steward - healer and a community heartbeat. We reclaim this heritage to show Oakland's youth that a strong man is disciplined, expressive, and rooted in legacy that transcends boarders.
-
Mobile Rhythmic Lab: We provide 30 professional djembes and dununs, removing all resource barriers for partner schools.
-
Neutral Zone Programming: Strategically scheduled for high-risk after-school hours (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) to foster safety and focus.
-
Cultural Stewardship: High-level instruction in Sousou and Malinke traditions, building resilience through technical mastery.
-
Neurological Regulation: Utilizing rhythmic entrainment as a trauma-informed tool for impulse control and emotional regulation, helping youth transition from "survival mode" to a state of calm, focused engagement.
The Program at a Glance
Our Impact and Logistics
Bridging the Gap Between Heritage and Classroom
The Master Artist & Leadership
Rooted in Tradition, Leading with Vision
Mohamed Lamine Bangoura
Artistic Director & Master Artist
With over 30 years of mastery in the Manding traditions of Guinea, Lamine Bangoura serves as the cultural heartbeat of Afrique Sogué. As a former lead percussionist for world-renowned ensembles, he brings a level of technical precision and historical depth that transcends recreational drumming. His work with the Oakland Young Masters Project is a reclamation of the "Master-Apprentice" lineage, focusing on the djembe as a tool for community healing and youth resilience.
The Theory of Change
Our Methodology
Beyond The Rhythm
We utilize Rhythmic Entrainment—the process where the human nervous system synchronizes with an external beat. For our youth, this isn't just music; it is a clinical tool for neurological regulation. By mastering complex Manding rhythms, students build the impulse control and focus required for academic and personal success.
