By: Zach Miller
In a world increasingly defined by screens and gadgets, ten-year-old Ibni Rocks is charting an extraordinary path that inspires awe and admiration. Ibni is not your average kid; he’s a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, teacher, and even a magician. He has developed a strong ability to play by ear and from the heart, engaging audiences worldwide while maintaining his screen-free, homeschooled background.
Ibni started very young. He banged on cardboard boxes and pots at two years old, drummed at three, and performed with the Master Drummers of Ghana in Somerset, UK, at seven. Today, he plays the piano, drums, tabla, and handpan, proving himself to be a master of instruments and genres with a tremendous amount of skill and passion.
Ibni toured for his Infinity album this summer, composed in 11 countries, including England, Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland. The album is a fantastic display of originality through Ibni, comprising ten tracks played on instruments designed by Meridian and Lupan. Every performance reflects the personal way he approaches music, describing it as intuitive and heartfelt, “Whenever I listened to music, I wanted to play along. That’s what got me into music.” The Infinity album is available on CD and USB with beautiful artwork by Ash Saunders.
Ibni’s concerts are something more than performances; they are experiences. Having opened for The Gulls during the Robin Hood Tour in Bristol to mesmerizing crowds during the Griasdi Handpan Festival in Austria, stage presence does not appear a problem for the young one. He says, “The more people there are, the less nervous I am. The more people there are, the more that will enjoy my music.”
Apart from being a performer, Ibni is a teacher and philanthropist. He conducts workshops at his handpan studio, which includes the popular “How to Play the Handpan” series that tends to sell out quickly. Scholarships are offered to make his classes accessible to everyone. Ibni also uses his music for charity events, thus proving that he wants to do good for people.
While music is his passion, Ibni also enjoys performing magic tricks. Seeing the awe and wonder on people’s faces demonstrates his diverse talents and capacity to perform well in various areas. Ibni’s limitless ambition has also led him to dabble in art. Many of his artworks, featuring the various musical instruments he loves to play, are available online, with a significant quantity selling out shortly after they become available on the site. Be it teaching, performing, composing, or drawing, Ibni has cemented for himself a solid reputation.
Ibni Rocks intends to make his music as universal as the “Happy Birthday” song. To expand his fanbase and introduce more people to the wonderful music, Ibni continues to perform live, including the upcoming shows at Westminster Music Library in London on January 22, 2025, and at the HONA Handpan Festival on Naxos Island, Greece, in May 2025. He also has several fully booked workshops, with participants ranging from beginners to advanced.
With every beat, melody, and note, Ibni Rocks proves that age is no barrier to artistry. At just ten years old, he continues to inspire the world with his music, magic, and heart.
Published by Elle G
