A PRIMARY school African music group has drummed up some attention by winning a place in the finals of the acclaimed Music for Youth National Festival. The drumming group, made up of students aged between six and ten from Salusbury Primary School, in Salu

A PRIMARY school African music group has drummed up some attention by winning a place in the finals of the acclaimed Music for Youth National Festival.

The drumming group, made up of students aged between six and ten from Salusbury Primary School, in Salusbury Road, Kilburn, won over judges at the London regional concert held at Somerset House with its West African inspired routine, writes Kate Ferguson.

The group, called Ewasere, which means come and play in the Nigerian language of Yoruba, will perform in front of thousands of people in the national concert, at the prestigious Birmingham Symphony Hall, in July.

Fola Sade, who coaches the children in African drumming, said they are ecstatic with the win.

She said: "I am very pleased and proud of the children.

"The kids are really proud of themselves and they are much more confident than they were before.

"Of course, I hope they win one of the awards on offer, but it is not the most important thing. I feel like they have already won.

"The important thing now is that they do their best in Birmingham."

Salusbury School began hosting regular African drumming classes for six-year-old pupils after a one-off drumming workshop with their refugee and asylum seekers support unit proved popular with the youngsters.

Robert Andrews, music coordinator at Salusbury School, said: "Ours is such a diverse school and when I became music coordinator I wanted the music we taught to reflect that diversity.

"There is a lot of excitement among the students. We are a really musical school and to have our students perform at such a prestigious concert hall is a privilege."

The Music for Youth charity has had many famous musicians perform in its festival, including world renowned violinist Nigel Kennedy.