When was AHF formed?

Amanzi Healing Foundation (originally 'Amanzi') was formed in 1996 by musician and education leader, Asafo Gyata. It consisted of a live band and a cultural drumming ensemble of the same name.

Where did you go?

The band traveled to Germany on a two week cultural tour, performing at 'alternative' venues, whilst the ensemble ran workshops and provided the drumming for many cultural ceremonies including African Remembrance day in Greenwich park '98, 'Each one Teach One in Manchester and the 'Afrikan Peoples Day' event in '99 at the East London University.

How did you develop?

The latter aspect of Amanzi soon expanded into larger-scale projects, incorporating more art forms, such as poetry, dance and martial arts, and reaching communities as far a field as South Africa and Tanzania. Today, AHF has blossomed into a substantial, all-encompassing, creative arts organisation whose work has reached hundreds of people across the city, country and world.

Day to Day movements?

Our work is currently split between business re-structuring, education and live performance, though most projects incorporate elements of all 3. The educational branch of AHF creates CD's and book/compilations and runs 'Healing Workshops' that uses music, drumming, poetry and dance to allow participants to discover and explore their hidden talents. The live performance element comes in the form of a professional, high-energy, multicultural band called Nubian Sunshine.

What are your plans for the future?

The organisation plans to form business alliances in 2008 with community and corporate organisations, that will help to build solid working relationships and create a platform that we can substantiate our work consistently economically and with a stable base (school, centre) to deliver from.