8 members of rotc had played thames festival 2002 as the tamborim section of quiolombo school of samba, who proudly wore mandinga arts‘ costumes and inspired mandinga arts dancers. this year it was our turn, and the start of a long and fruitful relationship with some of the UK’s top carnival designers – charles and julieta. also there were no tamborins in our orchestra – shekeres, bells, timbas, caixas, repiniques & surdos. in the days before mandinga milkfloat/soundtruck we were challenged to provide music of a mostly african theme to link to the choreography of each section of costumed dancers. the result was a mini suite of contrasting african rhythms, arranged for samba drums. behind the pictured drummers in ivory-coast inspired costumes, there was a small horn section, and behind them, 4 sections of dancers. the music: digba (ivory coast), sikyi (ghana), toque for babalu aye (cuba/nigeria), cumbia (columbia). hard and challenging work. visit mandinga’s photo gallery for more of a flavour.
rotc with mandinga arts @ thames festival 2003