African Master Drummer Gideon Alorwoyie and his Afrikania Performing Troupe, consisting of approximately ten musicians, will perform traditional Ghanaian drumming and dance pieces. Mr. Alorwoyie originally taught at University of Ghana and was the master drummer with whom American composer Steve Reich studied prior to writing many of his most influential works. He is director of the African Percussion Ensemble at the University of North Texas, professor of music, high priest of the Yewe (that’s his title, midawo), and chief (or Torgbui) of his native region in Ghana. The percussive rhythms and forms Alorwoyie knows are not written down; they’ve been passed from generation to generation through practice and performance with such master drummers as himself. Before teaching at UNT, Alorwoyie was chief master drummer of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble, touring Europe, China, the former USSR, the Caribbean, South Korea and Hong Kong.