by Damian Garde
Daily Lobo
For the members of Casadimanza, dancing is more than a hobby.
"It's all about making noise and bringing good spirits to people," said Kobiana Nakigan, the troupe's co-founder. "They have sickness, sadness - they can just get up and have happiness in the moment."
Nakigan founded the group in 2002 with his wife, Mary Nakigan, after he emigrated from Senegal. The troupe began at UNM, but it quickly attracted members from around the city, most of whom are not UNM students. The 13-member group specializes in West African dance, accompanied by a group of four drummers.
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The troupe rehearses often, mostly because it enjoys dancing, Mary said.
"I'm a dancer, and I danced in a troupe before I moved to the U.S.," Kobiana said.
While he plays a traditional drum in the band, Kobiana also actively plays other instruments in his free time.
"Kobi is one of my African brothers," said Bekaye Kouyate, who plays the sabar, an African drum. "I came down here two years ago, and they asked me to play with them, because I am a really good sabar player."
Mary, a student of UNM's dance department, cites the music that accompanies West African dance as what makes it popular.
"It's the rhythmic component," she said. "The drums and the joy that comes out with the movement."
Kobiana sees the group as a catalyst for cultural expansion on campus.
"That's what we do - we share our culture with people," he said. "That's why we're here."
Casadimanza has performed across the continent, venturing as far as Washington, D.C., and Canada.
No matter where the group travels, there is always a crowd to watch it perform, Kobiana said. The size of the crowd, however, tends to vary.
"Sometimes you get a lot of people, like over 2,000," he said. "Sometimes you get five or 10 people."
No matter the turnout, he said, the Nakigans and their troupe will continue to perform wherever they can.
Casadimanza will perform Sunday in front of the Center for the Arts at 3:20 p.m. The show is free and open to the public.
"It's about getting people together," Kobiana said. "Color doesn't matter. It's all about who can dance and who can play in the band."
Members of the group teach African dance classes at Maple Street Dance Space on 111 Maple St. S.E.
