BENE TALLY is the name of Dembis Thioung's neighborhood in the heart of Dakar/Senegal, literally translated as ONE WAY or one road.

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BENE TALLY band, a self-funded project initiated in Oct19, brings people together through music, dance and chant in London.

 

Rooted in the dundun drum and the West African traditions, the band blends Dembis' Griot and Bayefall heritage, fostering creative collaborations between PENCHMI Dundunfolas students and master African artists. Every performance is unique and magical.

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This transformative journey invites also audience participation, connecting individuals and communities, inducing trance-like states, and offering the healing benefits of West African wisdom.

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Bene Tally Collective is a project initiated by Dembis Thioung with the intention to bring together music, sound, voice, dance and movement experiences and gather our talented and self-expressed community of artists in one space. Bene Tally collective is rooted in the world by the West African dundun drum and other percussion instruments as well as by Dembis' Griot heritage and ancestral call to  open and invite flowing creative collaborations with the community artists of London combining live performances with drum & dance circles.

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The name Bene Tally, meaning “one way”, is the name of the amazing neighbourhood where Dembis Thioung was born, he grow up and learned so many good values. It is formed by a very lively, diverse and spontaneous community, located in the heart of Dakar (Senegal), where people share and take care of each other always in happiness: they value their wealth not for how much they have, but for how much they share and give to others. They call this “teranga” and it’s the essence of the Senegalese culture.

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The audience is encouraged to be part of the performance by joining singing traditional songs, dancing at the vertiginous legendary rhythms and accompanying the percussionists with spontaneous sounds. They will have the opportunity to connect with the deep self, the others, the world and all life, be put in a trance, and receive the powerful healing benefits of the West African wisdom!

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Dembis Thioung invites the Dundunfola drummers that attend to Penchmi circles to showcase the spirited melodies they have created during their sessions. 

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Bene Tally Band Collective launched its first performance last Sunday 13th October 2019 at Hootananny Brixton. It has since performed in several venues including Peckham Levels, Post Bar, Kindred Studios, the Acklam Village amongs others. Follow Dembis Thioung on instagram for updates on next gigs. 

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Bene Tally Collective collaborators & guests: Dembis Thioung (composer, drum kit, dunduns, asico, vocals), Moussa Dembele (balafon, drums, gnoni),  Apex Zero (spoken word, voice, drums), Luzmira Zerpa (voice, dance), ( Batch Gueye (vocals, shaker), Ousmane Camara (Djembe, asico and sabar drums), Alai Sanfo (djembe drum), Cheikh Diop (djembe, sabar and asico drums), Maimouna Ndir (vocals, dance), Richard Richard (electric guitard), Keenan (bass guitar), Tomo Tani (electric guitar),  Aida Diop (voice, dancer), Moulaye Diallo (Simba lion), Zarak (bamboo saxo) , Titi Orinoko Tundama (flute, trumpet, saxo, gaita).

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PENCHMI Dundunfolas (drum+dance): Debbie Tulsie, Selina Wolke Rios, Ella Fox, Wanjiru Gichigi, Maisy Matumaini, Yolenn Col, Johnathan Wine, Jennyfer Parnasse, Joyce Assogba, Ava, Tamatha Weisser, Al Carr. 

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Outfits design: Saliou Ngom 

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Videographer: Maite Villarino

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Photography & Illustration: Barbara Grehrs

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