Soul Beat

The Bay Area Spirit Drumz (“drum sanctuary”) combines virtuoso Afro-Cuban, Afro-Haitian, Afro-Brazilian and West African percussion with lessons in leadership and cultural competency to provide liberation and inspiration. Founder Afia Walking Tree’s goal, since starting her project in 1996, has been to prepare women and girls to become healers and leaders through the mastery of African drums. This weekend, Walking Tree presides over “sound powah” upstairs at Aquarius (3936 Broadway, 816-931-6303), where there’s a children’s drumming playshop tonight and an 18-and-older workshop tomorrow called “Drum Our Souls Free.” The cost is $15 for Friday’s 7 p.m. kids’ event (scholarships are available for low-income drummers) and $55 to pound out inner demons and find inner peace via the djembe from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. RSVP to Kim Oursler at 816-510-4391 or e-mail priestesskim@yahoo.com.

Fri., May 1, 7 p.m.; Sat., May 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 2009