Mentors
I was a student of Fotigui Touré (soloist of the National Ballet of Senegal), then gained field experience in Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Guinea, and later immersed myself in the Paris djembe scene through Ballet Nimba, directed by M’Bemba Camara.
I also had inspiring encounters with Adama Dramé, Lamine Dibo Camara, Noumoudy Keïta, Famoudou Konaté, and Mamady Keïta.
Musical Training / Production
Before entering the world of the djembe, I studied violin in childhood. In parallel, I later developed a sustained practice of piano and gained experience in music production and arrangement, from my own group, Percussion Ensemble, to the artistic direction and arrangements of Siselabonga’s first EP.
Collaborations
I performed with Ballet Nimba, Ryo Noda, Katsumi Watanabe, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, and recorded with artists such as André Ceccarelli, Jean-Louis Aubert, Duran Duran, and Ray Lema.
Creation of DJEMBESOLO
Based on decades of experience gained through workshops around the world, I created DJEMBESOLO to help students move from simple repetition to confident, meaningful musical expression.
Your Path Forward
If you are excited about taking your playing to the next level,
browse the courses and see how this can happen.