Teachers
Drums Aloud provides teachers who have many years experience in West African djembe & sabar drumming. Nigel (see bottom of page) is the default resident teacher, but listed here are other teachers we have used recently or have plans to use in the near future to supplement the regular teaching:
Modou Diouf is from the Serer people of Senegal and comes from a long line of griots (those families who are responsible
for preserving the musical and oral traditions of the village/tribe). His instrument is the sabar drum, which is played
with hand and stick and is used primarily by those from the Wolof tribe in Northern Senegal. Modou has been teaching in this country and in
Africa for over 10 years although he still lives in Brikama, The Gambia.
Ansoumana 'Vieux' Bakayoko has been playing since the age of three and whilst living in Senegal, he led a troupe of drummers & dancers,
'The Ballet Bougarabou', for about 14 years. Vieux now lives in Leamington Spa and he is the soloist drummer and leader of
Hamana Bjémakan. He is a master of djembe, dundun, bolon & krin and he teaches traditional
Mandingue/Malinke rhythms and his teaching & playing style are very dynamic and great fun.
Diene 'Waaw Waaw' Sagna is also from the Serer people of Senegal and is from a family of dancers . His speciality is in the
traditional Senegalese sabar style of dancing, but has also trained in the djembe style. He is based in Manchester and has regular
classes there, but he teaches and performs all over the UK.
Visit his MySpace page for more information
Visit his MySpace page for more information
Karim M'Baye is a sabar griot from a griot family in Kaolack. Sabar drums are his first instrument but is also a master of the tama (talking
drum). He has extensive knowledge of the sabar traditions and rhythms and he is a consumate player and performer. Karim likes to help develop a relaxed
environment in his classes but he is also keen to teach and help students understand good technique and the authentic ways of sabar. He is also an expert at
skinning sabar and djembe drums
Idrissa Camara trained with the renowned Ballet Bassikolo and other Guinean dance troupes. He taught in Senegal and The Gambia and was Maitre
en Scene for Ballets Africain de Ziguinchor and Dakar and the Ballet Bougarabou. He now teaches throughout the UK and performs with acoustic group Tamala,
all Guinean 'Petit de Guinee', the newly-formed Ballet Nimba and Hamana Bjémakan.
Babacar Dieng is an enthusiastic teacher who leads lively and joyful drumming classes, but he is also insightful and intelligent in his approach to
teaching. He has a desire to share his knowledge of sabar, not just the drumming but also the singing, the dancing and the traditions that also form an
important part of the whole Senegalese culture of sabar
Batch Gueye has an explosive and energetic style and has been performing sabar since childhood and performed with many renowned artists. His expertise
covers all areas: dance, drumming and singing. His professionalism extends to his teaching and he likes to stretch his students to understand the full
complexities of sabar. He has a wonderful soulful voice and is keen to introduce his students to the sabar songs
Hans Sutton is a perceptive, dynamic and inspiring teacher who began playing djembe aged 10 and teaching aged 15. He
specialises in Guinean rhythms and has studied with the world's best drummers in Africa & Europe. Hans is renowned for his versatile teaching
methods, comprehensive subject knowledge and the high standards his students achieve. He runs regular classes all over the UK, is much sought
after and teaches and performs at all the major drumming festivals.
Saskia Bakayoko has been doing West African drumming since 1997. She has studied with Mamady Keita and latterly with the Ballet Bougarabou in Senegal.
It is there that she began her study of the traditional Guinean style of dance. She is one of the best UK female djembe players and a renowned teacher in her own right.
Saskia plays with Hamana Bjémakan and delivers drum and dance workshops with her husband, Ansoumana 'Vieux' Bakayoko
(see above).
Emma Nelson has been doing West African drumming since 2003 studying with different djembe masters and has a deep knowledge of
Mandingue/Malinke rhythms. Emma has also studied Guinean dance, both in the UK and in Senegal. Consequently, Emma can teach djembe/dundun
rhythms as well as the accompanying song and dance. She has performed both drum and dance with Hamana
Bjémakan.
Rosie Colvin has been doing sabar drumming since 1998 and has been teaching sabar in Banbury since 2006. Rosie has been performing
with Sankofa (a sabar performance group) for several years, and has been leading the group for the last couple of years. She has studied
extensively with Modou, both in Africa and in the UK
Nigel Sadler met Modou and other sabar students in the Gambia in March 2006 whilst working at Madina Salaam with the WYCE charity. Nigel has since
studied extensively with all of the above teachers, both djembe and sabar, on a regular basis since the start of 2007, and has studied with
Ansoumana 'Vieux' Bakayoko in Senegal and Modou Diouf in The Gambia. Nigel has also studied with Mamady Keita, Seckou Keita, Nansady Keita and Iya Sako, amongst others.
Drums Aloud encourages its members to lead in the absence of any other teachers and a number of the group have led the regular Saturday morning sessions.