More on the Artists

Oracle, Intuitive Guide, Initiated Spiritual Guide, Certified Love Attraction CoachTM

Aya Iworiosa is the founder of Moon Garden Temple, a place for: cycle breakers, healers rebalancing themselves, those who know that there is something more for them in this life, those who are here to fulfill the desires of their hearts, and the Spiritually curious. The offerings of this temple intend to rebalance the tremendous turmoil and chaos of our current existence by raising up women who wish to answer this mighty call: remember who we really are as divine beings on this planet, restore our roots as carriers of cardinal wisdom for humanity, and reclaim our power to create upon our dreams, resulting in a better experience for ourselves and all those that experience us. It is our time to live in our fullest expression as free beings, joyful and nourished.
Aya maintains a lifetime practice of cultivating intuitive and the divining gifts of her bloodline, recognized and initiated through her Spiritual Family in the temples of West Africa. Though she is a guide and teacher in various creative and spiritual focuses for over 20 years, she is committed to being a forever student.

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Aya Iworiosa and Moon Garden Temple can be found at:

www.moongardentemple.com​

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilbadassery/

Master Drummer Charles N. Armah 

Many drummers teach lessons, play in drum clinics, and lead master classes, but no one does it as much as Charles Nii Armah. With inspirations from people like Professor F. Nii-Yartey of the National Dance Company of Ghana, Charles has led a life full of inspiration and knowledge to the drum community both in Africa and abroad.

He has also performed in front of many heads of states, including President Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, and Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki who served as the second post-Apartheid President of South Africa. He is a member of the Addy Family, the nephew of Obo Addy, and comes from a long line of drummers.

Master Drummer Charles was a lead drummer with the National Dance Company of Ghana, a company based at the National Theatre performed to roaring ovations by audiences and received raving reviews in the media on nearly all the continents of the world. With aesthetically pleasing dances that combine ancient folk and contemporary dance form, the rich polyrhythm of percussion and mellifluous melodies, the National Dance Company proved itself worthy Ambassador of Ghana. As one of the two master drummers in the company, he could play all the leading drums of musical forms from each region with Ghana Dance Ensemble. His work with that company offered him exposure to England, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, South Korea and the United States. As a child, he could play all the traditional drums of his ethnic group, the Ga people of Accra at the age of eight, therefore, it was no surprise when he enlisted in the national dance company of Ghana in 1993 and within two years, rose to become an Assistant Master Drummer.

His popularity grew as a drumming instructor as he played at Ghana Dane Ensemble (Ghana), School of Performing Arts (SPA) in Ghana, Lewis and Clark University of Portland, Oregon and providing drumming lessons at almost all elementary schools in the Portland vicinity, a small sample of the many clinics he has played. In addition to instructing, Master Drummer Charles has played for many recordings and live performances. He was a guest performer at the first ever Traditional Dance Night at Concordia University. He has also played for Randy Weston, African Rhythms in Tribute to Obo Addy. Although he has played for many top artists and groups in Ghana and even abroad, he does not rely on this as his claim to fame as he has played on a wide variety of African traditional drums, in his lifetime. Master Drummer Charles’ popularly known as “Little wizard” with his magnetic memory absorbs any rhythm that he encounters. He is presently the master drummer for Okropong which was founded by the late Obo Addy so many years ago. As a teacher and a performer, he is extremely effective.

AKÂDI PDX

1001 SE Division St, Portland Or

OPEN WED - SUN: 4PM - 9 PM

Portland’s vibrant jewel of West African cuisine – Driven by a love for authenticity and cultural connection, AKÂDI brings West Africa’s most aromatic dishes (and from all corners of the region) to the Pacific Northwest. Jollof rice warm to the deeply smoky notes of grilled suya, each dish is prepared with care, using traditional methods and fresh ingredients. AKÂDI is not just a restaurant; it is a convergence of food, music, and community in an ethnic setting that transports patrons to the heart of West Africa. Whether you’re discovering the cuisine for the first time, or are a longtime aficionado of African flavors, AKÂDI PDX welcomes you to savor, explore, and celebrate the joy of West African hospitality.

Chef Fatou Ouattara, hailing from Bouake, Cote D'Ivoire, learned the art of African cuisine from her mom, grandma, and aunts. As a teenager, she honed her culinary skills in Bobo Dioulasso and Burkina Faso, mastering clay ovens, wood fires, and traditional spice preparation. Chef Fatou's mission is to authentically represent West African culture through AKÂDI's food, music, and ambiance, mirroring the gatherings she cherished from her Ivory Coast roots.

Food is our universal language for emotions and connections. In our family, it's the medium through which we express love, sadness, and joy. It's where we cry, dance, and celebrate, sparking our creativity and imagination to create the most delicious dishes you'll ever taste.

info@akadipdx.com 971-271-7072

https://www.instagram.com/akadipdx