Canadh Croí (“Singing of the Heart” in Irish Gaelic) is a live music and dance ensemble based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, which combines the complex rhythms and fluid movement of West African music and dance with the flowing melodies and percussive footwork of the Irish tradition. We are a multi-cultural and multi-generational ensemble, whose members range from internationally recognized masters to dedicated young artists carrying these traditions into the next generation. Through our exploration of the intersection of these two dynamic traditions, we celebrate the creative potential of culturally diverse communities, and hope to inspire people to express themselves and explore their own heritage through music and dance.

Canadh Croí’s traditional West African artists are all members of Minneapolis-based Duniya Drum and Dance. Our Irish artists are drawn from the Twin Cities’ thriving Irish music and dance community. In addition to our performances with the full dance company, Canadh Croí also performs as a musical group, typically featuring two West African drummers and three Irish melody players.

Canadh Croí’s work has been supported by grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Irish Arts Minnesota, and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the group was selected to be one of the Southern Theater’s Performance Partners for the 2022-2023 season.

Prior to 2025, Canadh Croí performed under the name “Cumar”.

Click here to listen to our interview with Phil Nusbaum on KBEM’s “Minnesota Music Profiles”.

“Canadh Croí ” is an Irish Gaelic phrase, pronounced “Conna Cree”, which translates roughly to “Singing of the Heart”. The name also refers to Conakry, the capital city of Guinea, which is pronounced the same way, and which is the hometown of our master drummers Fodé and Sana Bangoura.