About

Having started out as a drum convention in Bristol over 20 years ago, Tribe of Doris is hailed as the world’s most vibrant community of intercultural drumming, dance, song and ceremony. ‘Doris’ as the organisation is fondly known to regulars, was dreamt into being by fellow musical adventurers Deasy Bamford and Siobhan Kierans, who shared a passion for drumming and dance; who are both well-travelled and have also both lived all over Africa. ‘Together we pioneered the idea of a festival where, instead of passively consuming “other cultures”,’ remembers Siobhan, ‘people could come together to learn about each other’s cultures by participating in the arts of drumming, dance, song and ceremony.’

What became known as the ‘Doris Intercultural Summer School’ inspired other events around the country, and delivers a famously brilliant and culturally rich learning experience. Today, Tribe of Doris runs a workshop and performance area at Shambala Festival, organises Bristol’s Celebrating Sanctuary event as part of Refugee week and regularly promotes the progress of artists and teachers of world music, in particular those from refugee backgrounds. In May 2014 we had a Summer Gathering at the prestigious site of Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, much to the delight of our regular attendees and lots of new Doris faces.

Over the years, Doris has worked with teachers from North, South, East and West Africa including Seckou Keita and other members of his talented family like Surahata Susso, and Mamadou and Binta Cissokho. Other African highlights have included mbira maestro Chartwell Dutiro, Sabar whiz Moudou Diouf, Amazigh dancer Amel Tafsout, Hassan Erraji from Morocco and Moroccan trance musicians Jil Gnawa. South America and the Caribbean have brought us Jean Abreu, Laercio dos Anjos Borges, Claudio Kron, Mariana Pinho and Colombian superstar Toto la Momposina.

Click on the links below to go to the different areas:

Bristol Refugee week

Sunrise festival

African Spring Party