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MODOU DIOUF – A PROFILE

Modou Diouf & O Fogum on Stage Africa Calling Live8 at Eden

Modou Diouf is an incredibly talented drummer from Senegal, who plays a traditional Senegalese drum called a Sabar. The drum is similar in size to a Djembe, but unlike the two handed playing technique of the Djembe, the Sabar is played combining stick and hand.

Modou Diouf was born in 1960 into a family of Gewel Musicians, (The Griots of Northern Senegal). Modou’s family were all born into the music of the Sabar Oulof, a particular form of drumming once reserved for Senegalese royalty, but now found more widely in the Senegambia region of West Africa. Today, Sabar music is found at all kinds of social events such as; weddings, births and other rites of passage, as well as popular events such as wrestling matches.

In 1988 Modou went to The Gambia, married, and is now settled there, living near the busy market town of Brikama. In 1995, Modou had his first chance to tour internationally, playing with Abdel Kabirr (a well known Gambian singer and Composer) and his band Revival. A UK tour included a performance on the Jazz Stage at the Glastonbury Festival. Following this first break, he toured Italy in 1996 with Lamine Ndiaye (a Lion Dancer in Senegambia), where they performed the Simba, a traditional Lion dance from Senegal.

In 1997, he was invited to teach Sabar music with Karamba World Music, an international school and educational organisation based in the Basse cassamance region of Senegal. He consistently excelled as a teacher and in May 2000, Gary Newland, co-founder of Karamba, invited him to teach in the UK in appreciation of his dedication and work with the organisation.

In 2001, Karamba brought his family over with him to tour the UK, recording their first CD under the name of Beugue Djamm (a name which literally means, desiring peace). The tour was highly acclaimed and culminated with a main stage performance at The Womad Festival. During this tour Modou and his group were interviewed on the BBC World Service radio programme.

Modou has since built up a large following of students and fans alike throughout the UK, and in 2003, taught his music at The Royal Academy of Music in London, as part of their world music summer school  programmes. Other projects being finalised includes a unique collaboration project with the highly acclaimed dance company JazzXchange, where he will be working with top contemporary dancers and jazz Musicians. He will be making his 7th appearance at Drum Camp in July 2006.

MODOU DIOUF & O FOGUM

The Talking Drums Tour 2005

'A stomping, compelling set that marked him as a new name to watch'

Songlines Magazine

' The vibe was electric. A highly expert ensemble of drummers'

IC Berkshire news

Line-up Talking Drums Tour 2005 

Modou Diouf and his group O Fogum, have now returned to Senegal after completing an exciting UK tour. Pretigious concerts such as LIVE 8 Africa Calling at the Eden Centre 2nd July, and the Womad Reading Festival 29th-31st July, have given the group a huge boost and much adoration from concert goers and critics alike.

 Modou Diouf and his son Ndongo with Bob Geldof, BBC Africa Lives 

Their first performance was on Sunday 24th June at the British Museum for the BBC Africa Lives Concert. They produced an incredible live set and workshop, and met with Bob Geldof, the man behind the Live 8 concerts and campaign.

Perhaps one of the greatest moments of this tour was performing at Live8 Africa Calling concert on 2nd July. A fantastic set was followed by a big finale with all the other performers. Womad's Rivermead Festival saw the climax of the tour with appearances on the Village and the River stage, and a spectacular cameo performance for the sunday night main finale on the open air stage.

The group left the UK on 2nd August with Modou himself, staying on for further education workshops and residency bookings. We hope to release some exciting publishing and recording news for the group very soon. Watch this space! 

The big finale Live8 eden july 2005

About Modou Diouf and O Fogum

Modou and his family (O Fogum), come from a long lineage of Griot musicians from the Serre peoples of Senegal. Their instruments are the Sabar Drums, and Tama (talking drum). Sabar and Tama drums produce the explosive rhythm section behind almost all modern Mbalax artists in Senegal today, including; Youssou N’Dor, Cheihk Lo and Baaba Maal. They are considered an integral part of their music, often taking the spotlight during concerts, captivating audiences, and possessing dancers to perform the most incredible moves and choreographies

In 2001 Modou toured Britain with his own 12 strong ensemble of Sabar drummers and dancers. This tour culminated with an unbelievable concert on the Siam Stage at Womad, where the group had little problem in winning the hearts of the huge crowd… and a few notable journalists; ‘’unfathomable cross rhythms ricocheted through the still air like machine-gun fire’’ (The Guardian).

Modou with Peter Gabriel

Music Worldwide and Modou Diouf would like to thank Audio-Technica for supplying the superb ATM35 Clip mics used for the 2005 Talking Drums Tour.

UK TOUR DATES SUMMER 2005:

Sun. 26th June  BBC AFRICA LIVES British Museum, London

Fri. 1st July Haverhill Arts Centre, Haverhill Suffolk

Sat. 2nd July  LIVE8-AFRICA CALLING, Eden Centre, Cornwall 

Sun. 3rd July Mill Arts Centre,Banbury Oxon,

Mon 4th-7th July  School residency Chipping Norton, Oxon

Thurs.7th- Sun.10th July  DRUM CAMP 2005 Bungay Suffolk.

Sat. 16th July  Mad Mag Day Festival, Magdalen Square, Gorleston, Norfolk

Sun. 17th July  Sheep Music Festival, Prestigne, Herefordshire

Mon 18th-fri.22nd July  Womad School residency, Slough,

Fri 22nd July  Assembly Rooms Norwich Norfolk

Sat. 23rd July  Brightlingsea Music Festival, Essex

Sun. 24th July  Harbourside Festival, Bristol,Somerset

Fri 29th-Sun.31st July  WOMAD Festival Rivermead, Reading 

For further information, pictures, CD’s and 2006 bookings contact:

Gary Newland

Music Worldwide

4 Dencora Apartments, ChapelField East, Norwich Norfolk NR2 1SF 

Telephone/Fax: 01603 626003    Mobile: 07770 740708

Email: gary@musicworldwide.org      Website: www.musicworldwide.org