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Rising star samba director spreads joy in hometown

Kaya Black
BBC News, Lancashire
BBC Kody Roberts wearing a blue hoodie, while hitting a drum with sticks that is strapped over his shoulder. He is smiling and wearing glasses. He is performing inside an indoor rehearsal space. People dressed in carnival dress can be seen behind. BBC
Percussionist Kody Roberts has been drumming with the band since he was 7

A young drummer who started leading a samba band at the age of 14 has said he wants more young people to enjoy the carnival atmosphere and "upbeat" rhythms.

Kody Roberts was introduced to SambAfriq by his grandmother when he was aged just even, becoming their youngest member, and seven years later was directing the group based in Chorley, Lancashire.

He said he was nervous when he joined but now the band "is like a family".

"Anytime my friends hear drums, they know that's Kody – it's pretty much what I'm known for in Chorley", the 18-year-old said.

Two rows of Samba drummers play before Kody, who is leading them at a community hall. They are wearing blue t-shirts with the band name on.
SambAfriq is a community band that plays South American-style Samba music

The band leader said he feared some younger people could be put off from taking part as "maybe they don't want to have the mick taken out of them".

But he said: "I want to get them into it and make them feel comfortable.

"Everyone gets nervous about coming and starting, but by the end of the session, I'm looking over thinking, yeah they've got the music.

"But they've got loads of friends as well."

A young girl smiling in a black t-shirt wearing a purple, carnival-style headpiece.
Tiana, 9, is one of the dancers in SambAfriq

Tiana, who aged nine is one of the band's youngest members, said: "When you come here, all your worries from the week just go away."

SambAfriq sees both dancers and drummers gather to perform the South American-style music.

Amber, who dances for the group, said she loves samba because "everyone that listens to samba music can't help but move".

"It does something to your body and it transforms your mood", she said.

Four women and a man stood chatting and laughing wearing a carnival outfits during a Samba band rehearsal at a community centre.
Amber (left), one of the band's dancers, said she enjoy not just the music but the chance socialise

Kody said he hopes to go on to become a full-time Samba band director.

He said he loves how "upbeat" the music is, and "how you can add different styles of music to it".

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