DrumSpeak I: MusicaNova Collaborative Concert, featuring Randy Kemp, Ken Koshio, and Sonja Branch
Drum Speak II, February 2018. Featuring Arouna Diarra, Dethie Sarr “Pape” Diouf, and Sonja Branch
Memphis Symphony Orchestra poster for the DeMars Sabar concerto, January 2018
January 2018: rehearsing James DeMars’s “Concerto For African Drums & Orchestra” with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra; Bob Moody, conducting. Featuring the Sabar Concerto All-Stars: Medoune Yacine “Dame” Gueye, ndeer; Abdou Mbaye, gorong; Dethie Sarr “Pape” Diouf, col; Sonja Branch, mbeng mbeng
ENdS poster, designed by SDBRANCH
The founding members of Ensemble Ndeye Soxna (ENdS): Sabar in the Desert. L-R: Lendo Abdur-Rahman, Sonja Branch, Terence La Neir II, Jeremy Muller, Chris Hodge. Our first performance was at Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, Carefree, AZ 2014
ENdS performing at the Musical Instrument Museum for “Experience West Africa!” Sept. 23, 2018. L-R: Sonja Branch, Lendo Abdur-Rahman, Richard Bogen, Chris Hodge, Jeremy Muller, Dethie Sarr Diouf. Photo by Masato Kubota
Ends at the MIM, September 2018. L-R: Lendo Abdur-Rahman, Richard Bogen, Chris Hodge, Sonja Branch, Dethie Sarr Diouf, Jeremy Muller. Photo by Masato Kubota
ENdS performing at the AZ PAS spring festival, Phoenix 2016. L-R: Richard Bogen, Lendo Abdur-Rahman, Sonja Branch, Dethie Sarr Diouf, Chris Hodge, Jeremy Muller, Joe Perez. Photo by Masato Kubota
Sabar class, pre-pandemic
Dethie Sarr “Pape” Diouf introduces sabar to students at Brophy Prep HS, Phoenix, 2019
Workshop with Mamady Keita, Tempe, AZ 2004
Dununs in the desert, Tucson 2000
Master sabar drummers of Camp Fareta 2015: Chiekh Tairou Mbaye, Ibou Ngom and Omar Mboup
Teaching the Scottsdale Community College Sabar-tichokes
Mariachi Corazon de Phoenix, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix 2007. L-R: Issa Carasco-Johnson, Kitty Lopez, Mimi Winters, John Castro, Sonja Branch, Albert Beserra, RIchard Haefer. Photo by Masato Kubota
Mariachi Corazon de Phoenix plays the MIM. L-R: Issa Carasco-Johnson, Kitty Lopez, James Hutchins, Mimi Winters, Sonja Branch, John Castro, Beto Lopez, Richard Haefer
My first instrument upon joining ASU’s Mariachi Diablos del Sol in 2004 was the harp. I had no idea what I was doing, but loved the instrument and the music.
Mariachi Rubor performing at Mesa Arts Center’s Dia de los Muertos festival, Oct. 2023
Playing guitarron with Mariachi Rubor
Playing guitarra de golpe with Mariachi Rubor
SDB playing timpani with MusicaNova Orchestra. Central United Methodist church, Phoenix, AZ. Photo by Masato Kubota
Performing “Book of Shadows” on final DMA recital, Arizona State University, October 2009
Kawambe in Anchorage to perform at the Alaska heritage arts festival. L-R: Mel “Tafa” Bridges, Mark Sunkett, Sonja Branch
American Festival Orchestra percussion section in King Gesar Square, Yu Shu, Qinghai Province, Tibetan Autonomous Region, 2016
Artie the Artichoke visits the Scottsdale Community College West African Drum Ensemble (the Sabar-tichokes) at rehearsal, Spring 2024
