Djamil Diop

Djamil is a master Doun Doun, Djembe, and Sabar drummer from Senegal, West Africa. He comes from a long line of Sabar Griots, or storytellers, who have passed down his people’s traditions and history through the language of the Sabar drums. The sixth in a family of seven internationally recognized musicians, he began his musical education from the time he could walk under the tutorial of his older brother, Badou, who studied with the greats and toured Europe as the lead drummer for the Senegalese National Ballet.

For the past 15 years in Senegal, Djamil performed traditional West African music with various Ballet Nationals in the capital and Casamance Region of Senegal, played for a modern African dance company, and recorded melodies for Senegal’s greatest musicians. During this time, he instructed percussion and dance workshops and private lessons for students from around the world.

Since his arrival in the states in October of 2008, he has performed in concerts with traditional African dance companies and African fusion bands and drummed for Sabar and Djembe dance workshops in San Francisco, Oakland, and New York. He frequently performs for school assemblies in San Francisco, and teaches weekly group and private Doun Doun, Djembe, and Sabar percussion classes for adults in the Bay Area. His dream is to organize his own musical group with other accomplished musicians to experiment with the melodies in his mind and create new rhythms.

Come join the Diop Family Griots as they unite in SENEGAL from the corners of the world for their biggest Djembe and Sabar Drum and Dance Workshop yet! It will be the first time in years that at least five of the brothers converge to produce a workshop.

The Diops, a family of seven internationally recognized musicians, are all virtuoso percussionists. From the well-known family of Sabar griots Sing Sing Rhythms, they have preserved their culture's traditions for centuries through the drum. They learned to play the DunDun, Djembe, and Sabar from the time they could walk and grew up playing together. As adults, they toured the world with Senegalese national ballets. Badou and Ibou Diop are considered two of West Africa’s Djembe greats. When all the brothers unite, the percussion reaches an infectious level of synchrony that that will move you from deep within. Visit the video section of this website for a taste. Hailing from a long line of traditional musicians, the Diops are connected to the top dancers in Senegal. They will bring in several Master dancers who live in Dakar and have performed extensively with National Ballets to teach dance class. Music and dance is always evolving at its source, and those living in Dakar will be able to teach the latest moves and rhythms.

The Diops will teach a two-hour drum class every day and also drum for the master dance teachers for a two-hour daily dance class. You, the students, will decide whether to place more of an emphasis on Sabar or Djembe. For those who are only interested in learning percussion, you can drum during the dance classes, practicing the rhythms you learn in drum class.

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Senegal is known as the land of hospitality and peace, and you will no doubt feel this yourself from day one. In this country, so close and yet so far away, you will leave the rushed and stressful American world behind and enter a “timeless” one. There is no better way to illustrate this difference than by the saying: “Americans have the clock, but Africans have the time!” If it is your first time or tenth, you have much to learn from the African people. 

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The workshop will take place in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. The local cuisine is delicious, and the markets are overflowing with colorful fabrics, beads, and crafts. In addition, Dakar has become one of the international Mecca's for musical night life.   


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Every day the Diop family will prepare you traditional dishes like: Ceebu Jén, Maafe, and Yaasa. In between classes, you can hear live music, chill by the beach, peruse the craft markets, and get to know Senegalese culture.  Finally, your understanding of drum and dance will increase incrementally.

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Workshop Agenda

6/25 - 6/26

You will be picked up at the airport in Dakar by the Diops and brought to your residence. You can rest from your trip and get oriented. The Diops will also show you around the area where you will be staying. 

6/27 - 7/1 and 7/4 - 7/8

Percussion class will take place for two hours every morning overlooking the ocean. We will dance (or drum for dance class, for those who prefer) every evening for two hours on or overlooking the beach so that we can take a cool bath in the sea afterward.

7/2 - 7/3 and 7/9 - 7/10

There will be no lessons on the weekend, and the group will have a chance to explore Dakar, hit the clubs, and relax at the beach. For those who love to explore the local markets, this is your chance! If enough people are interested, we will organize an excursion (excursion fees not included).

7/8

On the last evening of the workshop, we will celebrate with a traditional Tanebeer, a huge neighborhood party with Djembe and Sabar dancing. The Diop family Tanebeers are famous, and everyone in the capital comes out for them. You will see dancing that you will not believe, and Africans will love you if you add your flavor to the night.

Suggestions of Places to Visit:

Toubab Dialow is an artist town on the beach with many crafts and drum and dance performances. Close to Dakar, it is easy to get to with public transport.

The village of ToubaKouta is 230 km away from Dakar and 55 km from The Gambia. It is located in Sine-Saloum, a tidal delta area. The nearby Keur Bamboung, a remote eco-tourist lodge in the middle of a mangrove forest along a branch of the sea, is a haven from the continuous rush.

Ile de Gorée, an island off of Dakar, used to be the central market for the slave trade. Today there is a museum commemorating those who were stolen from their homeland and shipped to the Americas.

The Casamance, in the far south of Senegal, is the most lush region of the country. Many artists and musicians from Senegal and Guinea live along the beach towns. You can rent a cheap cabin at Plage Abene or Cap Skirring, eat huge mangos, and listen to music. You can get there by land, air, or a luxurious but affordable public boat.

Teachers' Biographies

Badou, Ibou, Adama, Cheikh, and Djamil Diop and family

The Diops are all famous and virtuoso percussionists from the well known family of griots “Sing Sing Rythmes”. They learned to play the DunDun, Djembe, and Sabar from the time they could walk and grew up playing together. As adults, they toured the world with various Senegalese national ballets. 

The oldest from the family of seven internationally recognized musicians, Badou is often considered one of West Africa’s Djembe greats. He taught his younger siblings all that they know. His younger brother, Ibou, is admired internationally for his fast hands.

In addition to drumming, Adama was a dance choreographer for Ballet Silimbo in Ecole des Artes. He began teaching students from Europe in 1990 and has been performing and teaching throughout the US since 1999. He is currently the director of Diop Percu International School of African Music and Dance in California.

Cheikh currently lives in Holland, where he teaches 100 plus drum students, accompanies during dance lessons, and plays in many different groups all over Europe. He now directs his own group: DIOP PERCU.

Djamil, an ingenious Dundun player, recently moved to the US, where he teaches percussion for all ages and performs.

Hailing from a long line of traditional musicians, the Diops are connected to the top dancers in Senegal. They will bring in several Master dancers who live in Dakar and have performed extensively with National Ballets to teach dance class. Music and dance is always evolving at its source, and those living in Dakar will be able to teach the latest moves and rhythms.

Daily Schedule

Join this beautiful percussion/dance trip to Senegal

Book now for this trip.