Introduction

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.