Uaminifu Youth Ensemble 

The Swahili word, uaminifu, translated means many words synonymous with TRUST.  Confidence, accuracy, credibility, dependability, etc. the list goes on. 

Uaminifu Youth Ensemble is an all children's traditional African dance company dedicated to the preservation, education, and presentation of traditional African dance culture.

Our logo is a combination of the resilient red ash tree and nsaa, the Adinkra symbol of excellence, genuineness and authenticity.

The Uaminifu Youth Ensemble Program (UYE), is an intensive training and performance program for male and female youth ages 8-17 in traditional West and South African dance and drum, creative expression and life skills development.  Experienced arts professionals anchored in our community will interact, instruct and guide your youth in the areas of performance execution, etiquette, world citizenship and other basic skills. This program is scholarship based and FREE to all selected participants. Participants will be selected through an audition process and based on their participation in the Yetu Youth classes.  Students will receive dance/drum training and perform throughout the city of Houston and select surrounding cities. Performances will also offer public speaking experience, self-esteem reinforcement/development and logged volunteer/community service hours.  Those selected will meet once a week from 10am-1pm.   

There are no program fees for UYE; however, parents must participate as chaperones and in other volunteer capacities for their child(ren) to participate.

Yetu Youth

Yetu Youth is our children's community dance and instrument class offering for children ages 5-15.  Yetu will offer your child exposure and basic training in popular dance disciplines such as modern, hip hop, and tap, with a focus on traditional dances and drumming from Africa.

Since KoumanKe’le’ African Dance & Drum Ensemble is geographically located in South Houston (Sunnyside), all classes and rehearsals are held at our shared space, S.H.A.P.E. Community Center 3815 Live Oak 77004. The Houston Dance Lab 3939 Hillcroft 77038.  No prior dance/drum experience is required, although it is appreciated. Perspective participants are continually being recruited from within Third Ward and its surrounding neighborhoods to better serve underserved youth.   



Our goals are to provide a  year round performance based youth program with a strong cultural arts component to selected participants and to provide a comprehensive summer camp experience for youth throughout the city of Houston.

Through Yetu Youth we will offer your children exposure and basic training in other diaspora dance such as modern, hip hop, tap and Afro-Brazilian

Objective I: To increase confidence in the expression and acceptance of culture fine art in our youth.

Objective II: To increase parent/family involvement, specifically single parent family members, with a minimum of 75% participation in parent meetings and 3 season events.

Objective III:  To increase the academic success of the student at their perspective schools by providing access to mentors.