Burundian Drumming Ensemble · Ottawa, Canada

The Heartbeat of Burundi

Ingoma — the sacred drum tradition of Burundi — carried to Canadian stages by a full live ensemble. Carved drums, bare feet, and a sound you feel before you hear it.

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Performing across

  • Ottawa
  • Gatineau
  • Montréal
  • Québec City
  • Toronto
  • United States
The Remesha Drums ensemble mid-performance, drummers in red and white regalia around carved wooden drums
A drummer balancing an Ingoma drum on his head while the ensemble plays behind him
2001 Ottawa,
Canada

Our story

More than music —
a cultural journey.

Remesha Drums is a Burundian cultural ensemble that has been part of Ottawa's artistic landscape since 2001. We perform Ingoma: the drumming, chanting and dance tradition passed down through generations of Burundian families.

Our members took part in significant ceremonies in their homeland before making Canada their home. Today they perform as cultural ambassadors — every show blending traditional Burundian rhythm with the energy of the communities we now belong to.

From neighbourhood festivals in Ottawa–Gatineau to major stages in Montréal, Québec City, Toronto and across the United States, we bring a piece of Burundi wherever we are invited.

When the drums start, nobody stays seated.
0+ Years performing
0+ Live shows
0 Countries toured

The tradition

What is Ingoma?

Three elements move together as one. Take any of them away and it is no longer Ingoma.

A Burundian Ingoma drum: a hide head laced to the body with wooden pegs, the body painted with the national flag of Burundi
Ingoma — carved from a single trunk, headed with hide, painted by hand
01

The Drum

Each Ingoma is carved from a single hollowed tree trunk and headed with hide. The great central drum, the inkiranya, sets the tempo; the amashako hold a continuous beat beneath it and the ibishikiso answer back.

02

The Rhythm

Struck with two wooden sticks, never by hand. The drummers rotate through the circle without missing a beat, so the pulse never stops from the first strike to the last — a conversation carried entirely in rhythm.

03

The Dance

Drumming, chant and leaping dance are one performance. Historically reserved for royal and sacred occasions, the ritual dance of the royal drum was inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.

What we offer

Bring us to your stage.

Every booking is shaped around your event — from a three-drum set for an intimate room to the full twelve-drum ensemble with dancers.

Watch us play

Feel the rhythm.

Remesha Drums performing live Video loads from YouTube on play

Get in touch

Let's create something extraordinary.

Tell us the date, the venue and roughly how many guests. We'll come back to you with what the ensemble can do and what it costs.