I attended the annual Tambacounda West African Drum and Dance Camp in California nine times during the 1990′s. Abdoulaye Diakate was the founder, the force, the inspiration, and director of this awesome nine day camp. With 3 drum classes and 3 dance classes per day, heaps of learning and training was provided. At night there were history classes and discussions of the meaning and origin of the rhythms and dances. What a wealth of information, inspiration, and culture!

After one of Abdoulaye Diakate’s drum classes, several of us went off into the trees to practice one of the rhythms he just taught us. About 20 minutes into our practice Abdoulaye walked up to our little group. After greeting him we ask him if what we were playing was close to what he showed us in class. He said yes, it was good.

Then he reached down and touched a djembe and said, “This djembe is not red or green, it’s not black or white, it is unity, jebe bara, unity drum.”  We all felt the magic of the moment and were appreciating Abdoulaye’s sweetness and message.

What a blessing it is to have a wonderful man/teacher/friend/master drummer such as Abdoulaye.