The Facts

Finding the intersection between art and commerce, The FN Group's Aaron Straight took two relatively unknown traditional Yoruba families, one Bata Drummers and the other Acrobatic dancers who had collaborated together for the last several hundred years and found the group's best fit in the North American market.

The Back Story

Hired by Andy Frankel and Jon Kertzer of Rakumi Arts International, the FN Group handled booking, marketing and tour management for Ayanagalu, a group of 9 Yoruba Bata drummers and Egun-gun mascarade dancers in a remarkable 6-week North American Tour. The artists, ranging in age from 6 - 60, spoke no English and barely traveled far from their rural village in Nigeria. Previously unknown, a unique marketing strategy enabled the group to become a highly sought after cultural experience by major universities and performing arts centers throughout the United States. The tour was concluded with an installation of the group's traditional Orisha costumes and drums at both the Seattle Art Museum and the Philadelphia Art Museum. Our favorite part of the tour was when the whole tribe crashed at the Straight family's house for four days in Virginia, dazzling locals with their tribal scaring and impromptu back flips in Walmart and local diners.

Notable Partners

The Seattle Art Museum, Seattle International Children's Festival, Philadelphia Art Museum, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The International Festival of Arts and Ideas, UCSB, UCSC, and UCLA.

Back to Projects index >>