What is Djemboree?
Djemboree is an annual weekend celebrating West African drumming, dance, song and traditional music. It brings together a thriving community of people from across the UK and beyond who want to learn directly from respected West African artists and teachers, develop their skills and share their enthusiasm for these closely connected art forms.
Justine Hart founded Djemboree and leads its planning, programming and organisation. Throughout her teaching career, she has arranged workshops with West African teachers so that members of her regular classes can deepen their knowledge, experience different teaching styles and be inspired by musicians and dancers who carry these traditions. Djemboree opens that opportunity to the wider drumming and dance community, with participants travelling from around the UK and, on occasion, from overseas.
The weekend combines workshops, performances and time to play and socialise, creating valuable opportunities for students to learn, for artists to share their knowledge and for the wider community to connect through music and dance.
Djemboree is organised by Hartbeats Community, a non-profit organisation, and is separate from Justine’s self-employed Hartbeats business. Justine’s professional role includes inviting and liaising with artists, planning the programme, coordinating bookings and publicity, and managing the administration of the event.
Photos: courtesy of Jed Hoile
Djemboree is an annual event. Here are the dates for 2027: Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th August 2027. The workshops take place at The Royal Grammar School High Wycombe and Saturday Night Spectacular is held at The Dashwood Roadhouse, Piddington High Wycombe.
Djemboree 2027 Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/50nZqyMJN
Below is the information for Djemboree 2026:
Take a look at this wonderful highlights video created by Peter Kendrick (thank you, Peter!):
https://youtu.be/DRiUOvrVkZ4
Here is the Djemboree 2026 Booking Form & Info: https://forms.gle/ofSjDyXzri1mGGhq5
Note this was for 2026 and NOT 2027. The 2026 Booking Form has not been released yet.
Please note that all drumming workshops have limited capacity (typically around 25 participants, depending on the space), and places can sell out quickly. All tickets need to be booked in advance.
Djemboree offers a special opportunity to study with — and be inspired by — some of the finest traditional West African masters of djembe and dundun, while experiencing the spirit of the global djembe family. This year we have some additional workshops, including Guinean dance!
You’ll be part of a welcoming community at Djemboree 2026!
★ Daytime Drumming Workshops ★
If you’re attending the daytime drumming workshops, you’ll work with one teacher per day, allowing time to go deeper into the rhythms. Each day focuses on both djembe and dundun parts, including breaks, solo phrases and sometimes a song. At the end of each day, groups come together for informal performances led by your teachers — always a much-loved highlight.
If you book all three days, you’ll have the opportunity to study with each of our amazing teachers:
IYA SAKO https://www.facebook.com/Iyasakodjembe
BILLY KONATÉ https://www.billykonate.com/
SIDIKI DEMBÉLÉ https://sidikidjembe.org/
There are also options to book one or two day workshop tickets.
★ Friday Evening Workshops ★
Djembe Workshop for All with MALO SONKO and Guinean Dance Workshop for All with OUTI KALLINEN. You don’t need attend the daytime workshops to join either of these sessions. Friday evening workshop participants are very welcome to arrive earlier to watch some of the end-of-day group performances, and book a meal.
★ Saturday Night Spectacular ★
The Saturday Night Spectacular brings everyone together for an intimate evening of live music and performance on a small stage in the pub garden. The evening opens with the beautiful sounds and songs of the kora (West African harp), played by JALI FILY CISSOKHO, followed by THE DJEMBE ALLSTARS, — an informal, high-energy drumming performance led by the Djemboree teachers.
You can also purchase a ticket just for the Saturday evening event, held at The Dashwood Roadhouse. This ticket includes the Thai food buffet.
★ About Hartbeats Community ★
I founded Hartbeats Community, a non-profit organisation, in 2017 to produce Djemboree and other community drumming events. I’ve been organising and co-organising workshops since 1999, alongside my own ongoing study of djembe, dundun and dance. I’m deeply grateful to all my teachers — past, present and future — for supporting my learning and for helping pass on these incredible art forms. Since 2008, I’ve been fortunate to make a living teaching classes and workshops in Buckinghamshire and beyond.
If you’re unable to attend Djemboree, or if you’d like to hear about other drumming and dance workshops I organise or lead, please ask to be added to my mailing list. I can be contacted at justine@hartbeats.co.uk or justine.hartbeats@gmail.com.
★ Booking Information ★
To book and for the full information including ticket prices, see Djemboree 2026 Booking Form & Info https://forms.gle/ofSjDyXzri1mGGhq5
I really look forward to receiving your booking forms and to welcoming you to Djemboree 2026
★ Facebook links ★
Please help promote the event & get connected!
Djemboree 2026 Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/630719246768447
Djemboree Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/193702316086304
West African Drumming & Dance Classes & Workshops UK & Ireland Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1058399399032429
Best Wishes
Justine Hart
justine@hartbeats.co.uk
justine.hartbeats@gmail.com
