Camp Afro Foli
Drum and Dance Retreat 2026.
We are super excited to announce that Camp Afro Foli is making waves of rhythm and movement in 2026.
Camp Afro Foli Drum & Dance Retreat 2026 brings you world-class artists in a 3 day retreat on the beautiful beach of Noosa North Shore Retreat.
There will be workshops in African dance, dundun dance, African drumming, dundun drumming and loads more.
Join Rhythm Culture for Camp Afro Foli Drum and Dance Retreat. The camp will run over three days where there is shared apartment style accommodation. This will be a self – catered event. Every apartment has its own kitchen and two bathrooms. Please bring your own food. There is a bistro and bar onsite for meals, snacks and drinks. You can also BYO alcohol. Apartments are two bedroom and sleeping will be approximately 6 people per apartment, 3 per bedroom.
There will be lots of workshops and an artist performance on the Saturday night.
Three days of movement, fun, cultural workshops and performances, with interstate artists bringing Africa to the Sunshine Coast.
Enjoy beautiful beach surroundings, world class talent and be immersed in West African culture with workshops in djembe, dancing, dundun drumming, and dundun dancing. Loads of action to choose from and the promised gift of rhythm for your hands and feet.
THE ARTISTS
Mohamed Camara
Mohamed Camara is a highly sought-after performer and Guinean music educator based in Melbourne. He was born into the Manding culture in Guinea Conakry, West Africa, whose rich and vibrant musical tradition has been a life-long passion. As a child he was apprenticed to internationally renowned Guinean master drummer Ton Ton Sylla, where he studied djembe, dun duns, and song. He also taught students traveling from Europe, America and Australia.
Mohamed went on to perform in many of Guinea’s leading drum and dance ensembles, including Ballet Bolonta, internationally renowned ensemble Les Sorciers de Guinée (directed by Miriam Makeba’s percussionist Papa Kouyaté), and was a founding member and djembe leader of Ballet Destin. Mohamed has played djembe for master dancer Alseny Soumah, and has studied and performed with Guinea’s great master drummer Fadouba Oularé.
Arriving in Australia in 2007, Mohamed has performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre and Hamer Hall, and has performed and facilitated workshops at WOMAdelaide, Woodford Folk Festival, Darwin Festival, Moomba and Dark Mofo. Mohamed has toured nationally with Asanti Dance Theatre and Muhanamwe, sponsored by the Australia Council’s Playing Australia. Mohamed has conducted workshops at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne University and NMIT, and has taught African drumming and culture through CERES, the Song Room and Australian Children’s Music Foundation.
In 2016 Mohamed founded contemporary Guinean band Jarabi, fronting the band on the kora, vocals and djembe, and is also a member of African Cuban fusion band Ausecuma Beats – both represented by record label Music in Exile. Mohamed has collaborated with electronic producer Jonny Faith, jazz drummer James McLean through Speak Percussion, was co-writer on a track for Australian film soundtrack ‘Le Champion’, and played on the Cat Empire’s latest album recording.
Aboubacar Camara
Aboubacar Camara is a Master Dancer and Choreographer, as well as a highly skilled acrobat and musician, from the Forest Region of Guinea, carrying the cultural heritage of Tomamania.
Internationally recognised for his profound knowledge of Guinean ballet, traditional dance, rhythms and song, he is fluent in the languages, musical traditions and dances of Guinea’s diverse regions, bringing exceptional cultural depth and authority to both performance and teaching.
With a rich family lineage in dance, Aboubacar is dedicated to preserving and sharing the traditions of his heritage through a pedagogical approach that blends discipline, joy and deep cultural understanding.
For many years he has served as lead dancer, teacher, choreographer and assistant artistic director of Merveille de Guinée, Guinea’s first private ballet company, contributing to the transmission and evolution of Guinean cultural performance both nationally and internationally.
Beyond choreography, Aboubacar’s work reflects the transmission of a living, breathing culture.
Bec Combs has been drumming and dancing for 20 years and has been taught by renowned teachers in Australia and overseas. Bec began learning drum and dance in Melbourne in 2004 and with a love of West African music and culture and a flair for business management then relocated to the Sunshine Coast in 2012 and established Rhythm Culture.
Bec has been to California in 2017 and West Africa in 2018 studying West African Dance with some of the worlds best teachers.
She shares this knowledge and years of practice with her students in regular classes and workshops. Bec teaches the West African dance class on a Tuesday evening and runs both drum and dance workshops all over South East QLD.
Nathaniel Combs has been studying West African drumming for 20 years and teaching for over 15.
His extensive knowledge and passion in West African drum and dance is contagious and mesmerising.
Nathaniel has spent many hours traveling, studying and training Balafon, Djembe and Dundun in Guinea and Mali. Nathaniel has been taught by many renowned teachers of Djembe including Mamady Keita and Bassidi Kone.
Nathaniel creates all Rhythm Culture drumming programs, facilitates drumming workshops and classes, performs and curates Rhythm Culture performances as well as CAMP AFRO FOLI!
Shivani Schoereder
From the moment Shivani took her first Yoga class back in 2009, she knew that there was something deeply powerful in that practice that she was keen to explore. Her life has been completely transformed ever since through the power of Yoga and meditation. Her great passions are: continuous learning and practicing the deep philosophies of the East, and sharing the tools she has learned over the years with others so they too can bring more peace, contentment and joy to their lives.
She also loves spending time in nature, singing devotional songs and drumming.
Camp Afro Foli Drum & Dance Retreat begins with registration on Friday July 24th at 2pm followed by drum and dance workshops. Saturday night is party night!! This is a self catered event. There are a range of activities, workshops and beautiful surroundings to have you rested, rejuvinated and totally pumped full of West African dance, drum and culture! Camp Afro Foli Drum and Dance Retreat activities include djembe, dundun, African dancing, dundun dancing and more.
CAMP AFRO FOLI ACTIVITIES
- Djembe Drumming – One of the most popular West African instruments. The djembe is a hand drum with three fundamental sounds, but a million (that’s a guess) ways to play them. There will be workshops each day and all skill levels are welcome.
- Dundun Dance – Like to drum and dance at the same time? Then this is the class for you! Move around your drum with funky dance moves and invigorating drum rhythms! Drums are provided and workshop will be to live drumming.
- West African Dance– These workshops will be open and will be to live drumming. Experience traditional West African dance and work up a sweat!
- Performance – Saturday night is party night with performances from our guest Artists and Rhythm Culture Artists.
- Yoga – Wake up and start your day with a grounding, rejuvenating and warming Yoga session. Prepare your body for movement and stay centred amidst all the camp excitement.
CAMP AFRO FOLI DRUM AND DANCE RETREAT
WHERE?
Noosa North Shore Retreat.
1 Beach Rd, Noosa North Shore, QLD 4565
There is a vehicle ferry which costs $16 each way. You used to have to paid this in cash to the ferry operators, but now you can book and pay for you ferry ticket online. Good motivation to car pool aswell and then you can share the costs, save on fuel and it’s the easiest way to make your vehicle super efficient!
SLEEP
Accommodation is shared two bedroom apartment style with 6 beds per apartment. There are two bathrooms and a full kitchen in each apartment.
There are 4 accommodation options when you buy your ticket.
Included – 3 persons per room/6 per apartment. Get your friends together and share an apartment while you enjoy the drum and dance retreat.
2 Persons – 2 person per room. Great for couples and people wanting a little more space.
1 Person – 1 person per room. For those that want/need their space. You will still share the kitchen/lounge area.
No accommodation – this is for people wanting to organise their own accommodation, for example if you would like to camp. You will need to contact the venue directly if you choose this option to organise it.
Every bed has its own bedding but please bring extra blankets for warmth if needed.
Every effort will be made so that friends or groups will be in apartments together.
EATS AND DRINKS
This is a self catered event. This means you will need to bring you own Friday lunch and dinner. Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner and Sunday breakfast and lunch, and it’s a good idea to have a snack for the drive home too!
Each apartment features a fully-equipped kitchen, dining area, comfortable lounge space, and each room has it’s own bathroom. The kitchen includes an oven, microwave, 4 cooker stove top, fridge, kettle, toaster, pots and pans, plates, bowls, cups and cutlery.
You can BYO alcohol, but please drink responsibly.
For extra meals, snacks or drinks there is a bistro and bar. There is no supermarket at Noosa North Shore.
PRICING
Camp Afro Foli Drum & Dance Retreat
Full Camp – 3 Persons in Room – $625.00
If you don’t use Paypal or credit cards you can make a bank transfer. Please ensure you put your full name in as the reference. Our bank details are: BSB 633 000 Account: 199 937 822
Includes Friday, Saturday, Sunday tuition, Accommodation, Africa Night Performance,
If you have any queries about the camp including accommodation, food etc please contact Rhythm Culture not the venue.
Terms and Conditions: All Camp Afro Foli Drum Camp and Dance Camp tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for classes or services at a later date. Artists may be subject to change without notice due to unforeseen circumstance. Camp Afro Foli program is subject to change without notice.
| Camp Afro Foli Program 2026 | ||
| Friday July 24th | ||
| Time | What’s On – Rosella Room | |
| 2:15 PM | Registration | |
| 3:00 PM | Drum – Mohamed Camara – 1hr | |
| 4:15 PM | Dance – Aboubacar Camara –1hr | |
| 5:30 PM | Drum – Sibo Bangoura – 1hr | |
| 6:45 PM | Dundun Dance – Aboubacar Camara – 1 hr | |
| 8:00 PM | Drum – Mohamed Camara – 1hr | |
| Saturday July 25th | ||
| Time | What’s On – Rosella Room | What’s On – Outside |
| 7:00 AM | Yoga – Shivani Schoereder | |
| 8:00 AM | Day Registrations | |
| 8:50 AM | Acknowledgement to Country | |
| 9:15 AM | Drum – Mohamed Camara – 1hr | |
| 10:30AM | Dance – Aboubacar Camara –1hr | |
| 11:45AM | Drum – Sibo Bangoura – 1hr | |
| 12:45PM | Lunch – Self-Cater | |
| 2:00 PM | Dundun Dance – Aboubacar Camara – 1 hr | Drum – Mohamed Camara – 1 hr |
| 3:15 PM | Drum – Sibo Bangoura – 1hr | |
| 4:30 PM | Dance – Aboubacar Camara –1hr | |
| 5:30 PM | Break | |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner – Self-Cater / Bistro Gathering (Eats and Drinks Available for purchase) | |
| 7:15 PM | Party night! Performance with Sibo Bangoura, Aboubacar Camara, Mohamed Camara, Nathaniel Combs, and friends. | |
| Sunday July 26th | ||
| Time | What’s On – Rosella Room | What’s On – Outside |
| 7:00 AM | Yoga – Shivani Schoereder | |
| 8:00 AM | Day Registrations | |
| 8:30 AM | Drum – Sibo Bangoura – 1hr | |
| 9:45 AM | Dance – Aboubacar Camara –1hr | Drum – Mohamed Camara – 1hr |
| 11:00AM | Dundun Dance – Aboubacar Camara – 1 hr | Drum – Sibo Bangoura – 1hr |
| 12:15PM | Lunch and Pack Up/Clean Up – Self-Cater | |
| 1:30 PM | Drum – Mohamed Camara – 1 hr | |
| 2:45 PM | Dance – Aboubacar Camara –1hr | |
| 4:00 PM | Goodbyes, safe travels and see you next year!! | |
Program is subject to change without notice.