Drumming up Spirit – Tzo’kam & Sawagi Taiko in Concert

Update May 20, 2022

Saturday, May 21 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00)
ANNEX Theatre, 823 Seymour (2nd floor)
Sliding-scale tickets ($15-30) for sale below

Join Powell Street Festival Society for this exciting collaboration between Sawagi Taiko and Tzo’kam on May 21 at the ANNEX. 

The two featured groups are multi-generational Indigenous and Asian Canadian artists drawn together by their passion and dedication to traditional music in contemporary times, a community focus, and the power of these shared experiences. Don’t miss Tzo’kam and Sawagi Taiko reunited for this exhilarating performance!

Tzo’kam means “chickadee” and “visitors are coming” in the Stl’atl’imx language. Flora Wallace, from Xaxlip (near Lillooet), along with her children and grandchildren have sung together at community events for many years. Tzo’kam sings songs of the Stl’atl’imx that Flora learned as a child. Today, Tzo’kam continues to teach, share and maintain a tradition kept alive by dedicated elders.

Founded in 1990, Sawagi Taiko is a multi-generational group of women of East Asian and Indigenous heritage, brought together by their shared passion for Taiko drumming. With thunderous drum beats, stirring vocals, and martial-arts inspired choreography, they share the empowerment and exhilaration felt through taiko Sawagi Taiko harnesses the power of the drum to support feminist and social justice ideals.

See Sawagi Taiko in Action: Nobori (written by Lisa Mah, Powell Street Festival 2018)

This event is produced by Powell Street Festival Society in association with DKAM, with support from Canadian Heritage and Vancouver Civic Theatres.