UK ARTISTS
Ansoumana Bakayoko (solo djembe, arrangements, krin, bolon ) began learning his craft at the age of three in Mali, the home of his father. From mixed Malian and Guinean heritage he is an outstanding purveyor of his craft and his knowledge of the music and the traditions is second to none.
Leaving home at the age of twelve he travelled to Senegal to study with a series of masters. Before moving to England, Vieux spent fourteen years as lead artist with the Bougarabou, a leading ‘ballet’ troupe.
Since arriving in the UK in 2006 he has wowed audiences at Tribe of Doris, Womad, Winter Drum, Drum Camp, One World and Godiva Festival among others. His arrangements and dynamic stage craft make him unmissable.
Saskia Bakayoko (dance, djembe, sangban, douns) began learning djembe in 1997. She has studied with Mamady Keita and latterly with the Ballet Bougarabou in Senegal. Its there that she began her work with traditional Guinean style dance. She has made eight study trips to Africa and is one of the best UK female djembe players.
A renowned teacher in her own right, Saskia led the well-known drum and dance troupe ‘Bambadinka’ for many years. She now delivers drum and dance workshops with her husband Ansoumana Bakayoko, troupe leader and master drummer from Mali.
Eliza Dickie (doun doun, djembe) has been learning and playing Mandingue music since ‘92. She spent ‘94-’95 in West Africa, mainly in Guinea and in Burkina Faso, where she studied with the dance troupe Koba, based in Bobo Dioulasso. She then spent two years in Brussels at Guinean musician Mamady Keita’s djembe school Tam Tam Mandingue. She has organised various workshops and performances for African artists in the UK and Scotland; she’s also worked as assistant to the Manager of the Les Ballets Africains and Fela Kuti, for Serious music producers and at the European Commission in Brussels while studying at the Tam Tam Mandingue school. She now works as a sessional music teacher for Ealing Music Service and runs the djembe ensemble at Kingston University. She has also run music projects in schools in collaboration with other musicians as well as teaching community groups in and outside London. She regularly organises West African dance and music workshops in London with visiting teachers and artists to support her work. She is working to develop an annual programme of regular workshops and ongoing tuition in West African music and dance for adults. Visit www.djembeschool.org for more information.