West African Band Performing in New Bedford Tonight

Get ready to dance to the beat at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Tonight, the rich, upbeat sounds of West African music will fill the space for a night of entertainment.

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Sidy Maïga is a musician who has been playing music for almost 35 years.

"I learned in Mali," he said. He got his start in the West African country and continued to play throughout his life, including when coming to the states nearly 20 years ago.

"I started working with people around here and I started my band," he said.

Instruments Used

Maïga plays the djembe, a rope-tuned, skin covered goblet drum played by hand. The instrument's name comes from the saying Anke djé, anke bé, meaning "everyone gather together in peace."

And they do.

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The music from Afrimanding, Maïga's band, gets people out of their seats and grooving to the beat.

"The crowd should expect to dance and also expect to experience the drumming because I'm bringing an extra drum for them too," Maïga said.

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Experience the Unique Sound

"I play traditional, but I also play a fusion," Maïga said. "It's dance music."

This West African performance is part of the museum's First Fridays series, a 21-plus after-hours event featuring "fun entertainment amongst fine art collections and artifacts" along with small bites and drinks.

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Schedule of Events

6:30 p.m. – Live performance by Sidy Maïga & Afrimanding

7:30 p.m. – Interactive drum circle workshop (open to attendees)

8:00 p.m. – Intimate reception and conversation with the artists

"Seeing the crowd getting involved with us, that's what I enjoy most," Maiga said. "I don't want to just go there and perform, I want everyone to be a part of it."