GIWAYEN MATA is the award-winning soul-stirring, all-sistah, dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble founded in 1993 The term GIWAYEN MATA literally translates “Elephant Women” in the West Afrikan Hausa language. This is the title that is given to women who lead women’s organizations. Elephants are matriarchal, nurturing, and powerful as were the founders of GIWAYEN MATA who banned together as women
artists who were leaders in the community taking the brave step to play drums in a way that women had not in the city of Atlanta. The founding women of GIWAYEN MATA interpreted the term to mean “Elephant Leaders of Women”. To fulfill this name, GIWAYEN MATA has moved and wooed audiences from New York to Texas and at venues throughout the southeast with entertainment that is empowering, enlightening, and educational.
