A Nigerian musician and dancer who has lived in Poland since 2005. He has been learning and improving his playing drums ever since he was a child and could participate in the cultural and ritual life of his community. In Nigeria he led a big band playing the traditional music at weddings, funerals and other ceremonies for which music is indispensable in his country. Here in Poland he wants to promote his home culture and to do what he loves most – music and dance.
Since 2006 he runs cyclical music and dance workshops in various places in Poland as a part of projects, festivals and other cultural events.
Music and dance are tightly connected to the culture of Igbo, people who live in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. It’s an archaic tradition, however still alive. John is a founder and artistic director of the African Educational and Artistic Venture Aka-Chukwu started in 2007. It is an unofficial group of African artists living in Poland which aims at promoting the African culture and music by organizing concerts, workshops and presentations as well as other interdisciplinary activities to create a positive image of African immigrants and to support the dialogue between cultures.
www.akachukwu.art.pl