A little about my background. I was born in Kebemer, Senegal in 1958 to a griot family. The duty of a griot used to be to pass on the knowledge of the history of the tribe from generation to generation. Different griot families specialised in playing certain traditional instruments (djembe or sabar drums, kora harp, etc) Griots were also peace makers, and they helped the traditional healers to treat people especially with psychic problems. Today griots are still connecting people in West Africa, as drums can also be used as telephones - and of course for fun, playing and dancing.

I started playing the traditional griot instruments, the djembe and sabar drums, in 1961.

In the 1980s I played the drums in several prominent Senegalese bands, like the Baaba Maal (picture, left) Orchestra and Youssou N'dour (picture, right) Super Etoile 2. I toured around Finland between 1988-1991 with a band that played modernised mbalax-music. I organised the tours of a Senegalese childrens' band in schools in Finland in three successive autumns as well. I have been worked with thousands of children and young people, giving workshops and teaching them non-verbal communication. During the last few years I have concentrated on music education and training. The purpose of my teaching is not only to teach people how to play but also the methods of non-verbal communication, how people can connect to other people and how they can find the joy of life within themselves.

In 1997 I started a Federation of Hope for young people which has now spread to several towns in Finland. The purpose is to give young people strength and belief in their own abilities so that they can find positive ways out of the problems which in today's society can sometimes be many.

My working career has been very many-sided. These are some of the schools and colleges in Finland where I have taught: Sibellus Academy Folk Music Department; The Music Institute of Westem Helsinki; Orivesi Institute Rhytm Seminars; The University of Helsinki; elementary and secondary schools of Espoo, Heisinki and Vantaa, Tampere, Joensuu and Jyväskylä; kindergartens in Espoo, Helsinki. Vantaa, Joensuu and Jyväskylä.

I have created special programs for the Board of Education and several private institutions in Finland. The pedagogy of my teaching is different depending on whether it is meant for children, young people or grown-ups, and depending on whether they are just ordinary persons who have not studied music - or whether they are persons who are already very advanced and have a lot of knowledge about the classical way of studying music. One important factor is also to combine movement and singing to the playing. 

Every training begins with opening up the natural “channels” of every individual so that they can feel free to express themselves through playing, singing and dancing. I can always contribute something new and fresh to the persons I teach, so that they get a new natural approach to the subject, and learning becomes fun - and sometimes even a healing process.

I have also successfully combined the traditional djembe drums with classical violins and cellos in some projects with music students, and in 1999 I did the same with the original singing and playing of the Sami people in the North of Finland. It is possible to create many new things built on the ancient traditions and thus also give an example of how people of all ages and cultures can share in the positive way.

In 1999 I was gave workshops to children and adults in Malta as part of an African Week organised by the Third World Group. My one-week visit there ended with a wonderful concert held at the University of Malta with the participation of a number of Maltese people who had attended my drum circle workshops.

As part of its "Ritmi" project, the Third World Group has once again invited me to Malta to lead workshops and to give a concert, this time with leading percussionist Renzo Spiteri. I will be visiting Malta after doing workshops in Germany and Austria.

MUSICIAN AND MUSIC EDUCATOR

1985 - Orchestra Baobab (picture, right), Orchestra Baaba Maal, played traditional Mbalax music

1986 - Youssou Ndour (picture, left) Super Etoile 2, played traditional and modern Mbalax music

1988 - Formed a band called Asamaan for a Finnish band leader, toured in festivals and played in clubs around Finland, toured also in London, Amsterdam and Sweden

1991 - Formed a Senegalese children's group CALOM that toured around schools and festivals in Finland during 3 successive automns

1993 - Moved over to teaching and educating children, young people and adults in different kinds of workshops

1955 - Participated in collecting information about old traditional instruments in Senegal, recorded old inherited knowledge about griot tradition,

1996 - Started more goal-oriented workshops using ORFF pedagogy and means of non-verbal communication, organised a federation of hope for young people active in several towns in Finland

1997- Worked as a freelance music educater, lecturer aud cultural promoter, teaching at the Sibelius Academy, the Universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki, Music Conservatories, Vocational Institutes, primary schools, kindergartens, and others. 

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