Awake to Know Africa provides drumming, singing and traditional storytelling sessions to support older people’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. We work in care homes, sheltered housing and day centres.

Music, one of the world’s most interacted-with arts, is something we can all relate to and has been proven to be more beneficial for older people than previously thought.

Music therapy has been used to treat people of all ages to overcome symptoms of depression, anxiety and loneliness for a number of years. However, after recent scientific research was conducted on its benefits, music therapy has seen a huge increase in popularity with older people, including those with dementia.

Drum Therapy is an ancient approach that uses rhythm to promote healing and self-expression. From the shamans of Mongolia to the Minianka healers of West Africa, therapeutic rhythm techniques have been used for thousands of years to create and maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health.

The neurochemical benefits of music can boost the body’s immune system, reduce anxiety and help regulate mood. Music therapy is like food for the soul. It can bring joy to the heart and fresh air to the lungs. Singing songs and letting rhythm move both body and mind to better health and happiness.