The Wula Team

Empowering Guinea

Wula Drum employs 20 people full time and pays salary plus benefits.

We are the only African djembe company with this model and we are very proud of it.

President

Michael Markus has spent over 20 years performing, teaching and studying West African styles of drumming. After receiving his BFA in percussion from Ithaca College, he fell in love with Djembe and moved to New York City in 1993. Soon afterwards he found his primary teacher, Master Drummer M’Bemba Bangoura, and began to apprentice in Guinea, West Africa.

Michael is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of cultural arts and socioeconomic development in Guinea.

more about michael →

M'Bemba Bangoura

Artistic Director

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.

M'Bemba moved to New York in 1992 where he made a massive impact as a teacher and organizer for djembe music. He continues to tour the world, teaching and performing, as one of the foremost ambassadors of the djembe.

more about m'bemba →

Yambig Sylla

Director of Production

Yamoussa Karamoko Sylla began Djembe work at 17 years of age to pay for his education. After graduating with a Computer Technology degree, he found out that what he really enjoys is the work and culture of the Djembe. He is naturally adept in the techniques of making Djembe. He soon worked with many of the drum makers throughout the capital of Conakry, searching to gain all of the knowledge and experience possible.

After mounting drums for Wula Drum, he quickly transitioned to Production Manager. He oversees the quality and consistency of every single instrument Wula Drum produces.

more about yambig →

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.