Retreat Faculty

Awa Pikine

Awa Pikine is a professional dancer from Senegal, West Africa. She was a principal dancer with the prestigious National Ballet of Senegal and Waato Sita, both internationally acclaimed dance companies.

While living in Senegal, Awa was one of the industry's most popular female dancers, appearing on stage, in film, and tv for the country's most well-known artists and some of its largest concerts. Awa has traveled the world teaching and performing African dance. She now lives in Los Angeles, California where she teaches regularly and tours the USA offering West African dance master classes. You can find Awa teaching dance regularly at Mid City Arts Center in Los Angeles.

Abdoul Doumbia

Abdoul Doumbia was born in Bamako, Mali in 1965 and was raised in the village of Foutaka Zambougou near the ancient Bamana city of Segou. At the age of five Abdoul began to learn the music of his culture. He went on to complete a 16 year apprenticeship with master drummer Moriba Keita in Bamako. Abdoul worked with many professional drum and dance companies in Mali, including nine years as lead drummer for the renowned traditional drum and dance troupe Babemba, and was chosen to represent his region for eight consecutive years in the National Drum Festival of Mali. Abdoul immigrated to the United States in 1991 to accept a position at Brown University. He taught regularly on the east coast, including classes at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, RISDI, the University of Florida, and the University of Connecticut before moving to Boulder, Colorado in 1998 where he currently lives and teaches. In Colorado Abdoul has taught classes at CU, Naropa and The Colorado College. Abdoul is known for his mastery of Malian djembe and dunun and is a respected source of information regarding Mali's rich culture and history.

Souleymane Solo Sana

Souleymane Solo Sana is an accomplished traditional dancer from Mali, West Africa. Dedicated to the preservation of traditional dance, music, and culture Solo is committed to continuous research to maintain an accurate representation and disbursement of traditional information, movement, and rhythm. A former principal member of one of the premiere companies of Mali, Ballet Du District de Bamako, he is a leader among artists. Solo’s presence at local ceremonies and festivals in Mali has always been in high demand, performing with renown griots and musicians as well as internationally known artists such as Djeneba Seck and Oumou Sangare. With an extensive knowledge of traditional dances of the Mande culture he is highly sought after as an instructor for private and group lessons teaching students from around the world including internationally acclaimed dancers, university instructors, and Broadway performers.

Currently Solo splits his time between teaching and performing in the United States and running Kono Gnaga, his NGO in Mali with a mission to preserve traditional dance and music. Solo made his choreographic premiere in New York City in the Spring of 2014 and has most recently embarked on the creation of Sira Koro, a dance and music ensemble in Mali, where he serves as Artistic Director and choreographer with a mission to bring new perspective to traditions while simultaneously providing opportunities for young artists in Mali. This is his first time at the Wula Drum and dance retreat and is looking forward to meeting everyone there.

Mar Gueye

Born in Tivaoune, Senegal, master drummer Mar Gueye is the son of Bouboucar Gueye and N'dambe Thioune, both of respected musical families known as N'guewel to the Wolof people. At the age of eight, Mar went to Senegal's capital, Dakar, to study and work with his uncle, renowned sabar drummer Dou Dou n'diaye Rose. By 1973, Mar had entered the Senegalese National School of the Arts and soon found himself playing with the Ballet National de Senegal. In 1976 he joined the Ballet d'Afrique Noire. By the time Mar had become a master of many drumming styles from Senegal and other parts of West Africa, including Sabar and the Djembe complex of dances.

From 1980 through 1986 Mar toured and performed at international events such as the Dijon Festival, and the Festival de Nance as well as the Vancouver Percussion Festival. Following this period he moved to New York and founded the N'guewel School of the Arts which helped to galvanize the network of Senegalese communities between New York and Washington D.C.

Among the constellation of internationally renowned Senegalese artists, Mar has worked with Youssou N'Dour, Tambour Brombg and Roots Talibe. In addition to his work within the Senegalese musical community, he has worked with a vast range of prominent musicians from diverse musical arenas including the Rolling Stones, Ziggy Marley, and jazz saxophonist David Sanborn. Since 1992 he has regularly recorded and toured with the World Saxophone Quartet. Also Mar frequently reunites with the World Saxophone Quartet and reunites with his uncle Dou Dou N'daiye Rose for tours in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Andoche Loubaki

Andoche Loubaki began his dance career in Brazzaville, Congo in 1998, with the choreographer Louis Causete. Two years later he joined the percussion group Toubillon as a drummer and learned to play the Ngoma. In 2013 Andoche started working with ballet Ngoma Za Kongo and went on tour in Gabon, Senegal, Libya and Malta. Ballet Ngoma Za Kongo, meaning "Drums of the Kongo," was invited by Africa Mondo Productions to tour the United States to bring different traditions and sounds from different regions of Congo. Andoche continues to share music and dance of the Congo with his performing company called Mfouambila which means groove.

Fode Seydou Bangoura

Born in Conakry, Guinea, Fodé Bangoura has been recognized internationally for his work as the lead drummer with the acclaimed ensembles “Les Merveilles de Guinée”. A protege of the late, Mohamed Kemoko Sano, Fodé is now one of the most respected and sought-after drummers of his generation. Teaching and performing in Japan, China, Europe and across the U.S., Fode brings a unique energy and electricity to audiences around the world. He has toured with some of the biggest names in African music such as Sekouba Bambino and Sekouba Kandia Kouyate. In 2007 Fode was honored to have a featured spot on MTV during the celebration of Black History Month and performed at the prestigious Apollo Theater in a Tribute to Bob Marley. In 2007 Fodé Cofounded Duniya Drum & Dance Company and began the Fakoly Dance and Drum Project, an annual drum and dance conference held in Minneapolis, MN giving students the opportunity to study and perform with the best of the best in Guinea drum and dance. Fode continues to search for new ways to share his unique art form with others and to bring his rich culture to the world.

M'Bemba Bangoura

M’Bemba Bangoura has traveled the world as a performer and teacher of the Djembe drum, and he is revered for his high level of mastery. As a native of Guinea, West Africa, M’Bemba began playing the djembe at the young age of seven. By the age of twenty-one, he was acclaimed as a master drummer and was invited to play for Ballet Djoliba, the national company of Guinea. Since moving to the US in 1992, M’Bemba is an integral part of the entire drum and dance scene nationwide. He has taught hundreds of students, many of who are now teachers themselves. In addition, he has personally created choreography and developed repertoire for dozens of dance companies worldwide.

Working throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, his style is infectious. He has recorded 3 solo albums, and a 2 volumes of DVDS called Wamato: Everybody Look! M’bemba has been a guest artist on dozens of other recording projects, videos, and films. Dedicated to teaching drumming, dancing, and his culture, M’Bemba is one of the world's most prominent ambassadors for Guinean drum and dance.

Youssouf Koumbassa

Youssouf Koumbassa is a former artist of Ballet Djoliba, the National Ballet of Guinea. Born and raised in Guinea, West Africa, Youssouf began dancing at the age of six. Youssouf's father is from the Landuma people and his mother from the Baga/Susu people.

Youssouf has traveled extensively throughout West Africa, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Holland, Hungary, Russia, Korea, Libya, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Since moving to the United States twenty-two years ago, Youssouf has established himself as the pre-eminent teacher of dance from Guinea. He now travels widely throughout the world as a much sought after master teacher at dance conferences, workshops, camps and schools. His classes are attended by a large and loyal following who are appreciative of his mercurial energy and grace.

Youssouf is meticulous in acknowledging the source of this material and insists on a high level of understanding and respect for the form among his students. He travels to Guinea regularly, taking students on dance trips and returns to the United States with the latest developments in contemporary dance so that his teaching is always a mixture of traditional work and the dances that infuse popular culture. He is easy to learn from and suitable for all levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced dancers.

Bolokada Conde

Bolokada Conde is a true Master Djembefola (master drummer), expert of Malinke Rhythms and is highly sought after worldwide. Originally from the Sankaran region of Guinea, West Africa, Bolokada was a young musical prodigy who grew to become the premier djembe player in major village celebrations in the region.

Soon after being discovered, Bolokada joined the world famous Les Percussion du Guinee to replace the legendary Nomoudy Keita as their lead drummer. He traveled and performed in major performance venues all over the world since 1996 and was featured in the IMAX movie PULSE: a Stomp Odyssey. Since 2004, he has been performing and teaching in the United States.

He has conducted percussion workshops all over the US, Europe, and Asia. He has released two musical CD's Morowaya and Sankaran and is the subject of an upcoming documentary "Bolokada Conde- Malinke Village Djembefola”. He recently moved to Greenville South Carolina and they are lucky to have him.

Quenia Ribeiro

Quenia Ribeiro is a dancer, choreographer and dance instructor from Rio de Janeiro Brazil with over 25 years of experience in the field. Quenia has performed Samba and Afro Brazilian Dance in Greece, Brazil, and throughout the United States. She has been featured in interviews and performances broadcast on PBS, ABC, WPIX, Telemundo and Fox 5 television. As a dance instructor she has been teaching Samba and Afro Brazilian Dance in NYC since 1997. Quenia has worked extensively in the public and private school system with children and teens teaching Brazilian Dance and Creative Movement (in both NYC and Brazil).

Classes with Quenia include elements drawn from her background in Ballet as well as her 10 years of Capoeira training. Currently Quenia Ribeiro choreographs and directs her own Dance Company, “Grupo Ribeiro”. Recently she celebrated a decade of teaching 5 weekly open classes at the Ailey Extension in New York City. Her reputation as an innovative leader in the instruction of Brazilian Dance has been furthered by her series of 4 instructional DVDs that have been marketed worldwide as well as the Idancesamba instructional app available on Itunes.

Moussa Traore

Moussa Traore was born and raised in Mali, West Africa. He has been playing the djembe for over forty years. In 1984, after completing a twelve year apprenticeship, he was deemed a Master by his teacher, Sega Cisse.

Moussa has achieved great recognition internationally as an accomplished musician in theater, traditional Malian ceremonies as well as in the African pop scene. Among musicians in Bamako, Moussa is considered to be one of the top djembe players in the country. He is an acclaimed teacher and performer throughout the US, China and Europe and is considered to be a Master in Djembe music composition. He combines traditional Malian rhythms with the feel of jazz improvisation, Latin pulse and his unique vision of what traditional African sound can be. His charismatic teaching and performing inspires people all over the world.

Moussa is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He works with dancers at Harvard University, Brown University, teaches at Roger Williams University and Wheaton College and others. He offers regular community classes and private lessons, leads drum ensembles for West African dance classes, and performs for special events and workshops.

Everton Isidoro

Everton Isidoro was born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. He began studying percussion in 1999, and he completed his Bachelors degree in Percussion at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) in 2012. Everton has built his career around his love for the rhythms native to his country, specifically those from Northeastern Brazil. Despite his young age, he is already well respected as both a master player and teacher by musicians world wide.

His work in Brazil consists of 10 years as a percussion teacher and musician at Neojibá project with which he has completed many tours in Europe, the US, and South America. He was the main percussion teacher at Espaço Cultural Pierre Verger for 6 years, musician at Orchestra Afro-Sinfônica, the Orchestra Soteropolifônica, Leitieres Leite & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and more. Worldwide, he has played with artists such as Maria Bethânia, Ivete Sangalo, Caetano Veloso, Susana Baca, Carlinhos Brown, Mercedes Sosa, Cecília Todd, Ramiro Musotto and others. He also performed in more than 75 cities in Brazil with the UFBA percussion Ensemble.

In the United States, Everton has taught workshops at Harlem Samba, Play on Philly, Dwana Smallwood’s dance school, the Philadelphia Orchestra's school partnership program.

Mangue Sylla

Mangue Sylla was born in Conakry, Guinea and started playing music at the age of 7. He is from the Susu ethnic group, and he learned the traditional Malinke music on the Sangban from a group of master Malinke drummers. With this foundation in the cultural music of Guinea Mangue progressed quickly.

Mangue joined the well known ballet troupe "Les Merveilles de Guinee” in 1993. Under the leadership of the late great Kemoko Sano, he traveled throughout Africa, performing and learning new music. Mangue moved to the US in 1998 and has made a career as a professional drummer in New York City. He keeps a busy schedule performing, and teaches at most major dance conferences in the U.S. He works with numerous organizations, including: Alvin Ailey Arts in Ed, Wula Drum and Dance NYC, Drum Cafe, Marylin's Bamdulaye, and Nandy's Sankofa Kuumba Cac (summer program for children), and the Off-Broadway production: The Legend of Yuana.

Famoro Dioubate

born in 1965 in Conakry, Guinea as a Griot (family lineage who keep the history and traditions of the people). He is the grandson of El Hadj Djelli Sory Kouyate, a living legend of the Mandeng Balafon. In Conakry he co-founded "Les Heritiers" with Sekouba Kandia Kouyate and recorded the albums "Kandia Dinke" and "Nyoumekela" with this group. Famoro was the understudy of his grandfather in the Ensemble Instrumental National (National ensemble of Guinea) and routinely performed for the President and visiting foreign dignitaries. He was a member of the famous Mory Kante's orchestra for the performances and recording of the "Traditional Symphonie."

Famaro has made a strong name for himself and moved to the United States in the late nineties. He is in high demand as a free-lance musician, playing everywhere from nightclubs to Carnegie Hall.

Fara Camara

Fara began his studies in the percussion arts in 1993, under the tutelage of the Bayo family from Kankan, who were at that time residing at the Camp Camayenne military base in Conakry, Guinea. While at Camp Camayenne, he also studied with Moussa Kourouma and Billy Nankouma. He soon began performing, first with the Sanké Jeanne Makôles ballets in 1999. In 2000, Fara and members of the Sanké Jeanne Makôles ballet created a new group called the Grand Sorcier Papa Kouyaté.

In 2003, Fara was honored to join the National Ensemble of Percussions de Guinée (after an introduction by Billy Nankouma), and he traveled with Percussions de Guinée to Egypt in 2015 and 2019 to perform. In 2010, Fara created his own group, Fara Percussions. His hope was to form a troupe featuring the finest music and dance talents in all of Guinée-Conakry.

Throughout his career, Fara has worked with and learned from renowned West African percussionist, such as Fadouba Oularé, Coungbana (master of Sangban), Lancei Konté (master of Doundoun), Ali Sylla (master of Djembe, and Lamine Lopez (master of Djembe).

Michael Markus

Michael Markus is the President of Wula Drum. As a musician, artistic director and educator, he has spent over twenty years performing, teaching and studying West African, Afro-Cuban, and American styles of drumming. Along with a BFA in percussion, he was mentored by accomplished master indigenous artists and travels often to Guinea to learn more. Michael is a visionary and charismatic teacher, and has taught throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Michael co-produced and released a CD of his group, Magbana, and a DVD of master drummers from Guinea. He released a popular series of 11 educational percussion CD and has more on the way featuring M’bemba Bangoura. Michael recently released a co-production with Famaro Dioubate: Kontendemi (Patience).

Michael regularly develops and conducts workshops and masterclasses for national and international Percussion Conventions, various Universities, public and private schools, festivals, community centers, and everywhere in-between. Commissioned work includes composing and directing choreography for Ethos Percussion at the Symphony Space in New York City, and Forces of Nature at the Apollo Theater. Michael is the artistic director and lead percussionist for ‘100 Tambours De Nelson Mandela,’ an honorarium for the late great Nelson Mandela. The group presented at several venues in Mexico, including the Zocalo Festival in Mexico City.

Michael is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of cultural arts and socioeconomic development in Guinea, West Africa. His company, Wula Drum, produces authentic, elegant, and professional sounding African drums in Conakry, Guinea.

Jamal Dickerson

Jamal P. Dickerson II is a virtuoso in the performing arts, demonstrating his mastery of world percussion and West African drum from a remarkably young age. As the lead djembe player for the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble since age nine, he has captivated audiences globally, gracing renowned stages, from the United Nations to the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Throughout his illustrious career, Jamal has shared the stage with icons like Sheila E, Trombone Shorty, Derek Hodge, Immanuel Wilkins and Christian McBride, Jamal has left an indelible mark on each performance. Representing the USA at the esteemed World Festival of Black Arts and Culture in Dakar, Senegal, he showcased his unparalleled talent on an international platform.

Dubbed "glass hands" for his unmatched skill, Jamal's passion for world music propels him to new heights as he shares his expertise through performances and teaching endeavors worldwide. As an artistic fellow with Washington, DC’s Farafina KAN, he imparts his knowledge to future percussionists at DC Prep, nurturing talent and inspiring others in the realm of music and culture. With a future brimming with promise, Jamal P. Dickerson II remains a beacon of inspiration in the realm of music and culture.

Jahi Smith

Jahi Smith is an up and coming djembe drummer out of Brooklyn, New York. He first started his training with African Love Institute and Imani Day School at the age 3. He quickly grasped the love for Djembe drum and attended Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy where he met many master drums and dance teachers. He also gained a lot of wonderful performance opportunities such as performing in Brazil for a cultural exchange project and the White House just to name a couple. He then advanced his training with Maimouna Keita and Kowteff, to get the chance to perform with some of his teachers. He studied with esteemed companies like Maimouna Keita, Kowteff and Farafina Kan Junior Company out of Washington, D.C. He’s currently one of the lead djembe players for Ballet Fe Sa, and deeply appreciates all of his teachers for their patience, leadership skills and love.

Dave Kobrenski

Dave Kobrenski is an artist, musician, and author of three books, including his most recent book, a narrative memoir titled Finding the Source.

Between 2001 and 2016, Dave traveled extensively in West Africa to study traditional music with master musicians, including Famoudou Konaté, Sayon Camara, Nansady Keita, and more. His apprenticeship with Lanciné Condé, a master of the Malinké flute tradition, lasted for fifteen years until Lanciné’s untimely death in 2021.

Dave plays the Fulani flute, kamale ngoni (a 10-string Mande harp), djembe, and balafon with his main music project, called Afroflute. Kobrenski has also performed throughout the Northeast with various projects, including pianist Jed Wilson, Donkilo Afro Jazz, Sayon Camara and Landaya, and occasionally collaborates with Barika from Burlington, VT.

Kristina Marrufo

“In my journey as a holistic practitioner, I found massage to be the missing ingredient to help tie together almost all the things I love in life. It has provided me a platform to be able to learn, be creative, help others, and become more aware of how our unique movement patterns affect our everyday lives. My training and techniques include somatic touch, thai stretching, sports, pin & release, myofascial, craniosacral, deep tissue, trigger point, cupping, and reflexology. These modalities coupled with my concentrations in Reiki and sound healing, as well as my exposure to indigenous practices and working in clinical settings my approach to massage goes beyond a relaxing touch. My intention is to always help a person in need to become aware of the disharmony in their movements and how we can correct it together, while completely putting the nervous system at ease for optimal performance.”

Joelle Faucette

Joelle Faucette grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and started her journey with dance and movement at four years old. Classically trained in ballet, she danced throughout childhood with the Dance Del Bello company and began teaching at sixteen. She was first exposed to yoga in her early twenties and fell in love with the combination of breathwork, movement and the healing power of this practice. She has received her Buti Yoga certification, RYT-200 certification, achieved the level of Reiki Master/Teacher, and is the founder of the.SoL.method Podcast. Her teaching style is encouraging, warm, and bright and infused with the dedication to create a safe space for each one of her students.

Personal quote: "I believe movement is medicine and that through our breath and our bodies we can find joy, healing, and connection as a human collective."

Yoga Class description: Vinyasa Yoga emphasizes the movement between asanas (yoga poses), coordinated with and guided by deliberate breath. This class is designed to stretch, awaken, and warm the body and mind. Expect a fully balanced class that includes bends, twists, the opportunity for backbends and inversions, and a final meditation. Modifications will be made for every level of experience and every body type; all are welcome to join!