About Kabako
Shared rhythm Upbeat energy
Kabako is a Cape Town company of drummers, dancers and facilitators, founded on the idea that making music together unites people.
Uniting people through rhythm
When people play, move and listen together, barriers soften, connections grow and a sense of shared presence emerges. We create shared experiences that encourage participation and expression, helping people feel included and comfortable with one another. Through rhythm, we bring groups together to laugh, celebrate and enjoy making music.
Our name: Kabako is a Bambara word describing something astonishing or extraordinary: a wonder or marvel. For us, it names what happens when a room full of people connects through rhythm, laughter and the joy of making music together. That’s the shared moment we set out to create every time.
The people behind the rhythm
Each session brings together complementary roles: a facilitator to guide the group, drummers to hold the rhythm and a soloist to lift the energy.
Matthew Bird
Managing Director and Artistic Director
Matthew is Kabako’s creative lead, shaping every experience around rhythm, culture and human connection. Years of percussion, facilitation and cultural performance with organisations, schools and communities have convinced him that rhythm is a universal language: it breaks down barriers, strengthens groups and creates shared moments that mean something.
Nzama Bine Binose
Lead Facilitator, Dancer and Marimba Player
Raised in Congo in a family of drum makers and dancers, Binos is one of Kabako’s most dynamic performers. He plays djembe, marimba, ngoma, drum kit and bass, has performed across Congo, Angola, Namibia and South Africa, and brings energy, joy and a deep belief in the unifying power of music to every session he leads.
Stanton Febric
Lead Drummer, Soloist and Percussionist
Stanton brings power, precision and instinctive musicality to every Kabako performance. As lead drummer and soloist he moves easily between traditional rhythm ensembles and sets with DJs and electronic artists, layering authentic African rhythm with a modern edge and an energy that is hard to resist.
Sidy Sangare
Lead Facilitator, Soloist and Percussionist
A master drummer from Mali, Sidy began studying djembe at seven under some of the country’s foremost masters. He went on to perform with the National Ballet of Mali and alongside artists including Baaba Maal, Cheikh Lô, Salif Keita and Miriam Makeba, and brings West African rhythm and culture vividly to life in every session.
Nigel Larry
Support Drummer and Percussionist
Nigel is the steady heartbeat behind Kabako’s sessions. With a strong sense of rhythm and timing, he anchors the groove, responds intuitively to facilitators and participants, and brings a calm, dependable energy that keeps everyone playing together.
Frieda Coetzee
Social Media & Accounts Manager
Frieda is the connective thread in Kabako’s operations. She looks after social media, photography and video, manages accounts and the team, and is a warm, trusted presence on site. A background in artist booking means she understands what performers and clients both need, and she keeps every event running smoothly.
What guides every beat
The principles behind every session, workshop and performance.
Connection through shared rhythm
We believe people connect most naturally when they play together.
Inclusion and full participation
Everyone has a drum and a part to play, whatever their experience.
Authentic cultural expression
Our music comes from the traditions our team grew up with, shared with care and respect.
Moments of shared meaning
We aim for the moments people remember, when a group pauses, smiles and feels it together.
Four ways to experience Kabako
Let’s bring your group together
Tell us about your group and/or event and we’ll shape the right experience around it.
Tell us what you have in mind
Start with the essentials. We’ll take it from there.