Bernard Woma

Bernard Woma (18 December 1966 - 27 April 2018) was a well-known Dagara gyile player from Upper West Ghana who spent many years teaching the instrument and introducing it to audiences around the world.

He formed the Bernard Woma Ensemble with musicians Kofi Ameyaw and Mark Stone and master dancers Sulley Imoro and Peace Elewonu.

Woma’s formal education included studies at the University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts, where he deepened his understanding of traditional and contemporary African music.

Unique teaching style by Woma-though he was firm in dedication, he is soft in his approach, joined with a dose of humor, earned him admiration from the students and his colleagues alike.

He toured the world- performing and holding workshops- with such iconic individuals as Maya Angelou and Yo-Yo Ma, and he entertained- such world leaders as Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Woma's legacy as a mentor and cultural ambassador continues to inspire musicians worldwide, shaping both the academic and artistic communities that he touched.

[10][11] Bernard Woma is celebrated for his mastery and use of traditional African instruments, specifically the gyil, a single-row xylophone that is a symbol of Dagara's cultural identity.

Newborn Woma was born with both fists clenched as if he were holding mallets, which in his culture symbolized and foreshadowed his passion and success as a musician.