The name "Utamaduni", a swahili word meaning "culture", was adopted by the dance troupe after a Danish cultural exchange with the Sukuma tribe in Tanzania in 1977.

The exchange project in which the Danes also performed their traditional dance, was called "Daraja la Utamaduni" / "The cultural bridge".

From that embryonic beginning of cultural exchange, rich and fertile images of African culture were absorbed by the "Danes" - all thanks to the Sukuma people.

Since then Utamaduni has woven a tapestry of dance, drum, and song rhythms into a bond of friendship with local farmers and handicraft artists, and has inspired more than 25 Danish dance troupes that meet weekly for dance and workshops.

The Utamaduni Dance Troupe brings alive Africa, right here on the spot, with its colorful and expressive performance.
Both the young and old are fascinated by the interaction of the big drums and the dancers, and enjoy invitations from the troupe to join the dance.

The members of the dance troupe are also well renowned for their successful workshops in which they have more than 20 years of experience.

The workshops usually run for a couple of days, but can vary from just a few hours up to one week or longer.

Apart from doing dances, performances and workshops, the Utamaduni Dance Troupe also arrange workshops in building drums and doing handicrafts in the traditional Sukuma way.

Check out for further informations: Sander and Uffe

The drum builders within the troupe has improved their skill through the years and are building beautiful drums, with extremely good sound!

The artists inside the Utamaduni Dance Troupe are all professional dancers and musicians, educated within the fields of modern rhythmic music and movements.
Members of the troupe have been on many studying and performing tours to Tanzania and other African countries and are periodically working in Tanzania for the continuous development of the cultural bonds between Europe and Africa.

In Denmark since 1977 the troupe has made the drums of Tanzania sound at more than a thousand appearances in all corners of the country.

List of members (with email links to all members, but with Danish text)

Last updated 11-01-06 by webmaster: Mchele gwa Njingi

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