African drummer Pat Kerkenaar finds her beat at Mannum

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Are you falling in love with African drumbeats?

Are you looking for a teacher who can guide you — not in faraway Ghana, not even in Adelaide, but in Mannum, close to home?

The good news is, Mannum now has its very own local African drumming teacher.

Every Sunday, the sound of drums rises and flows like the river itself, carried through the hands of Pat Kerkenaar and her drum group.

Ms Kerkenaar has been teaching African drumming in the community for years, creating a space where anyone — beginner or experienced — can find rhythm, joy, and connection.

But her workshops aren’t just about music.

Every beat serves a bigger purpose: supporting children in Ghana to access education through her charity, the Cans For Kids Project.

“I’ve always believed music can change lives,” Ms Kerkenaar said.

“And if I can use my drumming to help children go to school, then every rhythm has extra meaning.

“Beyond helping others, drumming also boosts mental health and well-being, enhances memory and neurological function, and promotes physical fitness — all while being fun and engaging."

A life shaped by rhythm

Ms Kerkenaar’s journey with African drumming began decades ago.

She has studied with master instructors in Australia and Ghana, performed across Indonesia, and taken the stage at festivals such as the Amugangawe Music and Arts Festival in Ghana.

Her learning continues, with Afro-Latino rhythms studied in Indonesia.

This mix of travel, performance, and teaching gives her workshops depth and authenticity.

Over the past seven years, Ms Kerkenaar has worked in schools throughout Adelaide and the Mid Murray region, introducing students to the power of rhythm.

Teachers say her workshops leave a lasting impression: “The students absolutely loved it."

One local teach said, ‘I usually don’t like music but that was good, I could feel it all through my body, she is such a talented teacher.”

Hannah from St Joseph’s School in Murray Bridge said the expo was amazing; "It was a great interactive experience for the students.”

Another teacher said she had great passion and spirit: "Parents were impressed by how she encouraged students to step out of their comfort zones."

Ms Kerkenaar’s creativity isn’t limited to drumming — she’s also a talented visual artist.

Her bold, expressive painting, Sedan’s Harvest Moon, was featured in this
year’s SALA Festival at the Mannum Art Gallery, reflecting the same passion
and rhythm she brings to her workshops.

Ms Kerkenaar teaches these African rhythms with full permission and endorsement from her instructors in Ghana, ensuring the music is shared respectfully.

“Just as you would never perform an Aboriginal song or rhythm without consent from the family group, I uphold the same principles with the rhythms I teach,” she explains.

Join the beat

Pat’s Riverbeats Drumming workshops run weekly in Mannum:

• Cost: $10 per week for five weeks
• Drum hire: $5 per week or purchase available
• All proceeds go directly to the Cans For Kids Project, helping underprivileged children in Ghana access education

Alongside weekly classes, participants can enjoy summer drum circles, market performances, open mic events, and community parties — all celebrating rhythm, connection, and joy.

“When we come together to drum, we create joy here in Mannum — and hope across the world," she said.

Rhythm with a cause

The Cans For Kids Project is an Australian recycling project that uses the funds generated to teach the message of recycling and helps kids go to school in Indonesia and Ghana.

Funds raised have already contributed to school supplies and are now helping build a new school.

“It’s not just about drumming," Ms Kerkenaar said.

"It’s about giving children in Ghana the same chance at education that we sometimes take for granted."

Year 5-6 students from Our Lady of Hope School, in Adelaide, began the Cans for Kids Project in 2010, recycling cans to fund children’s education overseas.

Supported by Ms Kerkenaar, the initiative launched pig and goat projects in Bali, sponsored students, and in 2015 received awards for social justice, inspiring global compassion through everyday school action.

In 2019, she was honoured in Ghana with the title Naa Borley Atiaku III, Queen of Development, recognizing her significant contributions.

The title was bestowed during a traditional ceremony, highlighting the deep respect and connection her work has fostered within the community.

Until recently, many people in the Murraylands had to travel to Adelaide — or even overseas — to learn traditional African drumming.

Now, lessons are right here in town.

Students from Mannum and Murray Bridge flock to her sessions, eager to learn rhythms that are joyful, vibrant, and powerful.

“I always felt I didn’t have any musical talent or rhythm in me, but Pat’s teaching is so encouraging," said one Mannum student.

"I am now falling in love with her drumming and her teaching, if I can do it, anybody can.”

• More information: Visit cansforkidsproject.com, text 0421 212 629, email cansforkidsproject@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.