Shawn Lawrence

For over a decade, Shawn “Animal” Lawrence has shared his knowledge of West African dance and drumming in Jackson, MS, and beyond. A musician, educator, and mentor, he has devoted his creativity and skills to foster community and increase awareness and appreciation of West African heritage and musical practices. At the 83rd National Folk Festival, Shawn will lead interactive workshops with instruments including the djembe, dundun, krin, and balafon, teaching the intricate and engaging rhythms that make up the foundation of West African music.

Across West Africa, the rhythms played on the drums provide the underpinning for songs and dances to come to life. As those traditions were brought to the United States, they were passed down from generation to generation, while taking on new meaning and community practice. Today, drum circles are a meaningful source of community bonding and connection.

Music and dance have been a central part of Shawn Lawrence’s creative practice for much of his life. At seven years old, he learned to play drums at his local church; later, in his teens and  as a young adult, he joined a professional dance group in Miami, where he participated in a West African dance workshop led by percussionists Mangue Sylla and Eric Gore. The workshop sparked his pursuit and passion for West African drumming. Soon after, he studied African drumming at Tallahassee Community College and Jackson State University (JSU), earning a bachelor’s degree in percussion and jazz performance.

Shawn continues to hone his craft and deepen his knowledge of African diaspora heritage through his travels, performances, and continuing education. In 2021, he studied with master drummers at Les Merveilles de Guinée, a prestigious national ballet in Guinea, West Africa. He has toured as a musician in Guinea four times and performed on festival stages in Tenerife, Spain, and San Jan, Puerto Rico.

In addition to his skills as a performer, Shawn is an experienced educator and an active member of his community. In 2016, Shawn co-founded the interactive cultural arts organization Alkebulan Music Philosophy (AMP) with his collaborator and fellow musician, Edward Dacosta Dorman. AMP offers hands-on West African drumming classes, dance workshops, and educational programs designed to support the preservation and performance of West African drum and dance and to educate people about the culture of the African diaspora. The group leads community gatherings, performances, and workshops both in and out of state. At his alma matter, JSU, Shawn serves as music director for the JSU African Drum and Dance ensemble, preparing the younger generation of dancers and percussionists to carry on this tradition.