Ubaka Hill is an energetic performer, composer, songwriter, recording artist, public speaker, and teacher of hand drumming for more than 30 years throughout the United States and other countries. She says “my soul-vision is to facilitate and inspire personal transformation, empowerment, healing and joy with music that moves you.”
Ubaka creatively weaves percussion, poetry and song to inspire a positive uplifting atmosphere for her diverse audiences everywhere she teaches and performs. She performs solo and with her ensemble RHYTHM DANCE, a multi-instrumental and multi-cultural ensemble of talented musicians.
Ubaka’s music embraces many styles to create authentic, melodic and rhythmic musical forms from sacred to secular, ancient to contemporary. Her live performances and recorded music reflect our expanding drumming traditions, beliefs and changing times. With her vocals and spoken word poetry, her instruments include the Djembe, Ube, Conga and Ashiko drums, Didgeridoo, Udu, and various percussion instruments.
Ubaka founded the Million Women Drummers Gathering Global Initiative and the Drumsong Institute Museum and Archive of Women’s Drumming Traditions. She also created the DrumMa Award, which acknowledges women drummers who are pioneers.
Ubaka makes learning the art of drumming accessible to all who want to explore the language and power of drumming. Drumsong: The Art and Spirit of Drumming workshops have also included deaf/hard-of-hearing women and at-risk youth. She founded and directs The Drumsong Orchestra in performance with the participants of her Drumsong Workshops.
Ubaka’s rhythmic and lyrical ideas are inspired not only by her own personal stories but by the stories of many people. From street gatherings to the bedside of the sick, in theater productions and coffeehouses, concert halls, campuses and conferences, in healing circles and ceremonies, with children and elders, Ubaka shares her resonating voice and the voice of the drum for healing and joyful community.
Beyond The Wind is the title of Ubaka’s latest CD, featuring the ShapeShifters, The Drumsong Orchestra, and guest women drummers and singers from across the U.S. Her other CDs are ShapeShifters and Dance The Spiral Dance.
Ubaka is an inspiration to many and is motivated to realize her life vision by many historical and contemporary visionaries, artists, musicians and activists. She enjoys creative collaboration with many musicians, including Kay Gardner, Afia Walking Tree, Mosa Baczewska, and Judy Piazza. She has also recorded with Alix Olsen, Shawna Carol, Xtine Baczewska, and the Spirit of Life Ensemble.
She has received awards and special recognition for her leadership in the arts over the years, among them the Sojourner Truth Community Arts Award in 2015 and the Drummer of the Year Award in 2002 from The Voices of Africa Choral Ensemble.
Ubaka is one of the artists featured in the award-winning documentary Radical Harmonies.