​Back in 2014, Rapasa was already envisioning setting up a nyatiti school to make learning nyatiti more accessible to all. He was then using his own resources to run free of charge workshops in the city. This idea grew as he collected and mastered other East African Instruments while expanding his horizons across borders. When he met Akinyi, she was keen to get involved as she saw the relevance of furthering the idea to particularly serve the local community of the North East of England.  

Nyatiti NyaDala was first used as a brand name for community based projects such as affordable fee performances and workshops run between 2019 and 2022. In 2022 it was registered as Nyatiti NyaDala CIC (Community Interest Company), a platform of learning where people can interact and exchange their experience and culture. 

With you, we will explore the Lüō tradition as our main model and learn about the music traditionally played by its people and neighbouring communities and their culture. It gives the opportunities to question, explore and be creative in order to grow together.

The Lüō people are nilotes who can be traced back to Sudan and are thought to have travelled down the Nile river to settle in regions such as Western Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania around Nam Lolwe (Lake Victoria).

Though it has been observed that the place of the nyatiti has somehow changed over the years, it was central to this community. It used to be present for every important life events happening. The nyatiti music would bring people together to socialise, create a sense of belonging and give understanding of identity. Although the respect for this instrument has been eroded, a shift has also started to happen given the culture exchange over the past decades. Nyatiti NyaDala is a place where nyatiti music can breathe and regain its formal respect in the community while evolving with time and space.

At Nyatiti NyaDala we are also looking to participate in rebuilding a more cohesive space with the power of collaborative projects. The gap between individuals is even greater than ever since the COVID 19 pandemic. Our social collective intelligence is at risk. As a social species it is crucial that we interact more with one another. We have also long set ourselves apart from the rest of nature. Nyatiti NyaDala is looking to integrate values of respect to our environment by questioning our place within it and show it the respect it deserves.

​To do this, Nyatiti NyaDala is benefiting from nyatiti music. How can nyatiti music help? It has long been used in assisting with the mourning and cleansing processes. Moreover, pakruok, where the nyatiti players have poetic dialogues with their audience creates bond and contentment, it also empowers children as they participate in this practice and prepare them with essential social skills.

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• Using performances and workshops we are creating awareness about East African music, culture and traditions.

• With our relaxation programs we use sound and rhythm to still the mind and create new space and perspective.

• Our research and development programs let us delve into our impact and interaction with our environment and community to create sustainable and unique instruments for education purposes. 

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To enable us to do this we welcome your participation and support which can go a long way. You can support by booking services such as workshops, classes or private tuition or donating to our Nyatiti NyaDala CIC account.

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Thu Tinda!!!