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Your generosity keeps the drumming alive.

Why Give?

Bramaya West African Drum and Dance Ensemble is a newly formed nonprofit dedicated to preserving, performing, teaching, and promoting the traditional music, drumming, dance, and cultural heritage of West Africa. Through educational programs, workshops, residencies, and performances, we support artists, students, and communities in connecting with these living traditions.

Though Bramaya is newly established as a nonprofit, our roots run deep. Artistic Director Aboubacar Sylla has been teaching, performing, and creating events to share West African music and culture in Austin for over 16 years. For much of that time, he has carried a dream — to bring a West African drum and dance festival to Austin. This year, with the generous support of the Long Center’s Elevate Austin initiative, that dream becomes reality with Africa to Austin Festival 2026.

But this is just the beginning.

With your support, Bramaya will be able to grow beyond this first festival — expanding our reach into schools, community centers, and neighborhoods across Austin and the surrounding region. Every dollar helps us bring more workshops, more performances, and more opportunities for Austin communities to experience the beauty, depth, and joy of West African music and culture.

Your donation helps us:

• Offer pay-what-you-can workshops so cost is never a barrier

• Provide free community events

• Develop educational programs for youth and schools

• Build a sustainable home for West African arts in Austin

• Bring world-class master artists to Austin

Bramaya West African Drum and Dance Ensemble is a nonprofit corporation. Your donation supports our mission to preserve and share West African cultural heritage in Austin, Texas.