Hello and welcome to the supplemental page for my Remembering Your Ancestral Fire audio book! I put links to prominent folks in my book as well as photos; some of which did not appear in the hard copy of Remembering Your Ancestral Fire. I tried to put them here as they appear in my book; there is also a miscellaneous section at the end. If any of the links below don’t work, or if there is an issue with it, or if I need to change anything, please email me at taylor@holygoat.com so I can keep on top of it!
I’ll take a moment here to give extra special thanks to my engineer, co-sound designer and reality checker, Jake Helm – you made what I had better and I needed what you offered!
You can scroll this page or click on the list below to go directly to any of the chapters or things that come between chapters:
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Dedication and Acknowledgments
Introduction – what this book is generally about
Journal Entries: 1997 My First Trip to Guinea, West Africa
Africanesque Folktale—Origin: Fanta and Daouda
Journal Entries: 1998—Guinea Trip 2
Journal Entries: 2001—New York, Guinea, Madou Dembele, Mamady Keïta, Spider Dance
Interview with Bolokada and Malinke lesson
Africanesque Folktale—Duality: Hand of the Master
Bayoumba Chkadudilaba – from “A Touch of Chaos in the Rhythmic Soup” 1996
Chapter 6: 1994: The Beginnings Begin
Africanesque Folktale: The Story of Djemebeyaya: You Can Be Whole and Be Alone
Journal Entries: 2002—Rewiring the Self, Building the Road to Tam Tam Mandingue, Chicago
Chapter 7: First CD; First Teachers
Journal Entries: 2003—San Diego, Chicago, and Ireland
Africanesque Folktale—Plurality: The Story of Moribayassa—Mamady and Chad
Chapter 8: Remembering How to Drum
Journal Entries: 2005—The Big Tests
Journal Entries: 2007—Yo-Yo Ma and Performance Tour in the Birthplace of Mamady Keïta
Stalker – from my first solo CD “Silence”
Chapter 10: Silence, My Favorite Note
Journal Entries: 2008-2009—Vinx and Japan
The Forest (Flux in Perpetuum) – from “A Touch of Chaos in the Rhythmic Soup” 1996
Chapter 11: Zen and the Art of Djembe Maintenance, Starring My Teacher and Nemesis, Rope
Journal Entries: 2010-2011—China
Neo-Traditional Rhythm – from “A Touch of Chaos in the Rhythmic Soup” 1996
Chapter 13: Paul Caldwell, Tulum, and Malidoma Somé
Journal Entries: 2013-2014—Malidoma, KoSA
Malidoma Somé Divination – this is the actual, unedited recording of my first divination with him; it changed everthing.
Entre Nous – from my first solo CD “Silence”
Chapter 14: Rhythm Revolution / Funkadesi / Old Town / ASM 1996-1999
Come to Become – from my first solo CD “Silence”
Chapter 15: A Typical Work Week and Typical Gigs
A Final Note: The Beat Goes On
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Dedication and Acknowledgments
me with my guru Grand Master Drummer Mamady Keïta in 1999, 2017, 2001, (bottom) 2009
The top photo is of my brethren Toby Christiansen, Malidoma Patrice Somè and me playing with Malidoma as part of his keynote address at the 2014 Kauai Heath and Wellness Expo. Photo taken by Amy Krutek.
Introduction
— The West African Djembe Drum:
Djembe_Kan – this means ‘sound’ or ‘word’ of the djembe. It is frequently used to mean a djembe solo improvisation, which is what I did here.
Chapter 1: Why Am I Here?
— A couple of maps of Africa that represent the origins of the djembe in the Malian Empire:
— Dr. Eric Charry gave the following resources regarding the question “are most African American’s decendents of the Malian Empire (aka “The Mande”) – turns out, for the most part, they are not:
- Klein, Herbert S. 1999. The Atlantic Slave Trade. Cambridge, Gr.
Brit.: Cambridge University Press. Herbert covers the where from
(in Africa) and where to (in the Americas), with maps, etc., and
gives a solid historical background. - Curtin, Philip D. 1969. The Atlantic Slave Trade: A Census. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. This classic established
the foundation for the above. - Hall, Gwendolyn Midlo. 1992. Africans in Colonial Louisiana: The
Development of Afro-Creole Culture in the Eighteenth Century. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press. This book gives
some sense of solid historical research in the US. - https://www.slavevoyages.org/assessment/estimates. He also suggested that this website has since become the authoritative source.
- This is his 1996 article first published in Percussive Notes Magazine, the magazine of the Percussive Arts Society: https://echarry.faculty.wesleyan.edu/jembeguide/
— Animated interactive of the history of the Atlantic slave trade.
What is a kettle bell? Here’s on one of my ‘iron mistresses’
The Jungle:
— The Jungle poster from 2003 performance at the Old Town School of Folk Music
Chapter 2
— Lau Tsu
— Socrates
— The one and only Kurt Hill
— Bill and Finn Scheidt
— Dr James A. Warner: State dependent, or context dependent, learning is when knowledge has an unconscious connection to outside things, affecting one’s access to their knowledge.
— Harold “Babu Atiba” Walker is celebrated as a pioneering percussionist, educator, and cultural innovator rooted in Chicago’s vibrant arts scene. As a founding member and former Associate Director of Muntu Dance Theatre, he played a pivotal role in shaping the institution’s mission to explore and preserve African and African diaspora traditions through music, dance, and folklore. Click here to see him speak.
— Kimosha P Murphy, Arts Educator, Founding Artistic Director of ALYO Children’s Dance Theatre and Professor of Dance at DePaul University, Theatre School Faculty since 1989. 16 year MUNTU Dance Theatre Member. African Study Tour of Universities in Sene-Gambia in 1994 at Cheick Anta Diop, University of the Sahel and Gambia University in 1994. A friend and colleague on Taylor’s Djembe journey for decades.
Journal Entries: 1997 My First Trip to Guinea, West Africa
— A few Guinea, 1997 photos (wish I had more):
— me the late great Master Drummer Gbanworo Keita and my man John Yost
— Guiluxe Beer
— Kabinet “Mungam” Camara:
— Layne Redmond, author of When the Drummers Were Women
Chapter 3: Ancestors
Malidoma Somè’s first book “Of Water and the Spirit”:
Africanesque Folktale—Origin: Fanta and Daouda
All of my Africanesque Folktales use names, places and circumstances where I’ve been or heard of. There are several accounts of how the djembe came to be – none are alive not that were there then. This is my account of the origin of the djembe. Fadjimba is based on Mamady Keîta’s brother; Douda Kourouma is the most famous dununfola and Numun (caste of the blacksmiths); I learned from Famoudou Konate that there was a very famous dancer in Les Ballet Africains named Fanta.
Journal Entries: 1998—Guinea Trip 2:
— Arthur Hull
— Stokely Carmichael, aka, Kwame Ture
— Susu ethnic group
— Botè drum
— Video of my 1998 trip to Guinea! (warning: the audio is only in the right channel; headphones NOT recommended!)
Chapter 4: In the Beginning
viaMy family – left to right, Sylvia Taylor, me, Wilbert Taylor, Piper Taylor c.1974
My biological mother, Audrey Kindelspire (c. 1966; c. 2021)
My biological father David Day, Sr (c.1987; c.1966)
My half siblings (we all have David Day, Sr. as our father), David Joachim Day and Dia Day
DRUMeditation Flute Song: This came through me many years ago when doing DRUMeditations. If you’ve done a DRUMeditation with me, you’ve heard this song.
Chapter 5: My Early Years
me c. 1974; second or third grade
The Flying Squirrells cycling team (l to r, Dave Wren, Kevin Folta, me, Jim Frale, Sean Rowbottom – glad you had this photo Kev!):
— At Illinois State University with the Band “In Colour” – we had a great run from c.1988-1991 (Don Livingston, guitar, vox; I was on keyboards, vox; Michael Criddell drums, then bass; Dave Villarreal, bass; John Barry, drums)
— Poster from the play that started my djembe-life, Light in the Village by John Clifford. It’s on an altar in my home; the hat to the upper right was worn by Malidoma for a long time and was gifted to me by Toby Christiansen. Malidoma’s first book “Of Water and the Spirit” is to the lower right.
Journal Entries: 2001—New York, Guinea, Madou Dembele, Mamady Keïta, Spider Dance
—Joseph Campbell’s Hero With A Thousand Faces
—Quote from Master Yoda
—Fight Club
—Djoniba Centre
Grand Master Drummer “Papa” Ladji Camara; me and Master Drummer Madou Dembele
—Epistemology
—Dead Can Dance “Fortune Presents Gifts Not According to the Book”
–Fadouba Oulare
–THE SPIDER!
—Charlie’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas – I played the lead, Jack Chesney
—A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare – I played Theseus, Duke of Athens
—The Good Doctor by Neil Simon – I played the lead in “The Seduction”
—Here is a video of The Seduction being done by UIC Alumni (not me – no video of that unfortunately) at the Moscow Theater Southwest in January 2006
—Saturn Return
—Some video shot by me of 2001 Guinea!
—Hunter S. Thompson
—“The Color of Water” by James McBride
—“‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” – I mistakenly attributed this quote to the playwright David Mamet; it is actually from the poet Emily Dickinson – my bad!!
—“Total Freedom” by J. Krishnamurti
—Babatunde Olatunji
–Dahui ensemble du rhythm – me, John Yost, Rick Neuhaus, Bill Miller, Toby Gaster, Rich Similio, Amon; photo below is me facilitating the first drum circle of the Olatunji event
–Giovanni Hidalgo my friend and Grand Master Conguerro (photo below is us from PASIC 2019)
—Mickey Hart
—Gordy Ryan
—Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm
–Sylvia Taylor photo here
—Stanislov Grof
—Holotropic Breathing
Interview and Malinkè lesson with my teacher and friend, Grand Master Drummer Moussa Bolokada Conde:
I had the incredible pleasure and gift of sitting with Grand Master Drummer Moussa “Bolokada” Conde for an interview and Malinkè lesson for my book in July 2024 at my brother Todd Tesen’s place outside of Detroit. This recording was done by me on a Zoom H6. If you have any corrections to the Malinke lesson (I did the best I could), please email me at taylor@holygoat.com.
I consider Bolo my #2 teacher (after Grand Master Drummer Mamady Keita) and have been performing and studying with him since c.2008.
Photos below – Bolo with me and my After School Matters apprentices, c. 2019 at Austin College and Career Academy High School , 2009 playing with my group Kaben Kafö (this incarnation of the group includes Bolo, me, Eric Thomas, Jason “Wolfy” Wolf, Andrew Elbert), me and Bolo at Illinois Wesleyan University c. 2018.
Now for some Malinkè, one of the dominant languages in Guinea, West Africa
Know that I did the best I could in the translation section of this segment! You hear it and compare what I do below!
I soma – good morning, sing
Aluni soma – good morning, pl
Iyini soma – good morning, pl
Initele – good afternoon, sing
Iyiniwura – good afternoon, pl
Ini kay – hello or thank you
M’ba – response; masc
N’se – response; feminine
Tanatè – how are you?
Tanassitè – I am fine.
Ifa na ini kay – thank you too
Ambe Ini kay – next time, thank you! (this was a bit unclear on the recording, so I verified it by contacting my friend Korafola and Master Artist and my friend Abdoulaye Conde)
Ah ah – no
N’tay – no
Ah ha – yes
Onh – yes
N’de – me (this was a bit unclear on the recording, so I verified it by contacting my friend Korafola and Master Artist and my friend Abdoulaye Conde)
uhn’wato djembefola – I’m going to play djembe
eetodee – what is your name?
Different dialects of Malinke in different regions of Guinea (I misspoke at one point, saying there are many dialects of Guinea in Guinea – ooops!)
eelay – you
I’m coming from Chicago – n’yebola Chicagoley
Un’wato – I’m going to…
Map of Guinea showing the areas he named; the line across the map is the route we took on our 2007 tour of Guinea:
I want to go to the bathroom – n’wato nyena
I would like to go to the bathroom – nya’fe n’wato nyena
How much does this cost? – djele te
This is too expensive – asonko gbeleman
Bolo, lower your price – Bolo, dobola gn’ye
Where is the bathrooom? – nye ye mi
Please – ala n’ye
The food is very good – asouman douman
“God makes food good for your body” – said after you give someone a plate of food – allah souma eekono
Gui – water
Afö – play, you speak very well! Talk!
Namu – yes, help, you can take a break before the next word
N’so – give me
Adimma – give me
N’ya fry annye bara – I would like to work with you
I doumanye – I love you
I doumanye n’danamo – I love you, my love
Dengyarni or denkurani – baby in the week after birth
Héré sira? – did you sleep in peace?
I kende sira? – did you sleep in health?
karamo – teacher
Kaben Kafö – meet or play together
Anta – let’s go
Wassa wassa – happy is coming from my body and happiness is coming out of my mouth
Ayeeaaaa! – response to wassa wassa
Kobarika – originally from arabic – thank you
I ni wale – singular; you did a good job – big thanks – work related
Ay ni wale – plural of I ni wale
Yes, that is correct – alele wodi
No, that’s incorrect – alete wodi
Gbangban – dust
1 – Kelen
2 – Fliah
3 – Sabah
4 – Nani
5 – Lolu
6 – Woro
7 – Worofila
8 – Seyn
9 – Konondo (for some reason I left this one out on the recording)
10 – Tan
Greeting exchange: I ni kay – m’ba (masc) i ni kay; tanate (hi, how are you?) – tannisite (I am good):
itissi (sit down):
n’watomi (where are you going?)
mundekeni – (what happened?) – foyemakè (nothing happened)
Inikeinike kosobe – thank you very much!
For more info on the Malinke language, there is this document that was put together by Friends of Guinea
Africanesque Folktales – Duality: “Hand of the Master” – this one came through me and I was performing it before pen hit paper. It is my story of learning the djembe; it is the story from everyone I’ve met that actually entered into the realm of learning how to actually play this incredible instrument as opposed to playing “on” the instrument. There is a difference between a djembe player and someone who plays ON djembe; a pianist from someone who plays ON piano; a violinist from someone who plays ON violin. The difference lies in learning the instrument or using it without knowledge.
Chapter 6: 1994, The Beginnings Begin
—Robert Pirsig, author of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”
I wasn’t able to find a place to purchase Stuart Copeland’s record and film “The Rhythmatist”, but you can listen to it here and view pieces of the film here! I found a copy that I’m buying on ebay, but couldn’t find it anywhere else – if you find it and want to tell me about it, let me know at taylor@holygoat.com!
— Photos from the Haunt of the Holy Goat all 1994: lower left – if you ask me to tell you the story of how this extraordinary drum, named Möli, happened to end of like this, you let me know – it’s short and pow’ful! Middle: Charlie Brown, me, Djembeyaya, Ky Ajayi-Brown; Lower right, a typical Sunday at the Haunt, Below: me and Stewart.
Below is the program from “The Rhythmatists” show, signed by Vinx! I would go on to have the honor of playing with him in 2008 at Uncommon Ground, Chicago! To see that, click here (one of 3 videos of me playing with him)!
The artist in “The Rhythmatists” show (I included all from the program above; not all performed):
— Stuart Copeland
— Ray Lema, Zaire
— Armand Sabal-Lecco, Camaroon
— Rene Heredia, Spain
— Vinx, USA (at the time; France as of the wrtigin of my book)
— Uakti, Brazil
— Les Percussions de Guinea, The Republic of Guinea
— Light in the Village by John Clifford
Our production team for Light In The Village
— Michael Stewart– director
— Michael McElya – director
— Ruth McElya – assistant director
— Jose Aleman Sasieta – set designer
— CJ Greenberg – stage manager
— Anjte Gherkin – guitar, percussion, mbira
— E Rawlings Thurman – percussion
— Me – djembe
— Danny Guitierrez – congas
— Some photos from Light in the Village from Jose Aleman Sasieta:
— Here are some photo’s from Danny Guitierrez, our conga player and photographer:
— My bruthafromanothamotha in so many ways; on so many channels; he put Malidoma’s book in my hand, Todd Tesen, 2010, Grand Rapids, MI:
— Dr Malidoma Somè’s “Of Water and the Spirit” – to see him speak (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) – click here!
—Mickey Hart’s “Drumming at the Edge of Magic”
— Dr Stanislov Grof’s “non-ordinary states of consciousness”
— Dru Kristal’s “Breath was the First Drummer”
— Photo below was the earliest incarnation of the DRUMeditation; we called it a “Baptism”, 1994
Above is the most recent splash page for the DRUMeditation – photo taken c.2018 at Andy’s Music, Chicago
The three-holed flute called the Tambin or Fula Flute (this one handcrafted by my awesome drumbrothafromanothamotha, author, illustrator, tambinfola, djembefola, dununfola and all around great human being, Dave Kobrenski. The “pipe-with-skewer” lookin thing is a carringnan (seen lots of different spellings for this); I use this instrument on the chant in my djembe Origin story.
— Elizabeth Nuti (photo below was from an ad Old Town School ad c. 2000 – me and Elizabeth)
Above are the initial sketches of how I described the Holy Goat logo, done by Elizabeth Nuti – she nailed it right off the bat (but that’s how she rolls)
Here I am with Djembeyaya and Stewart at the Haunt of the Holy Goat, 1994:
Journal Entries: 2002—Rewiring the Self, Building the Road to Tam Tam Mandingue, Chicago
— Me and the amazing Malian singer Omou Sangare 2023 (or 2024):
— “Tao Te Ching” by Laozi
— PHOTO OF TAYLOR AND MAHIRI
— Runes
— me and Amon (aka Masta Hippy, Goatee) 2002, Guinea (photo credit to Peter Schaupp) – click his name for a link to his studio in NYC!
— Some random photos from the 2002, Guinea (if credit goes to you and I didn’t cite that, email me at taylor@holygoat.com so I can upate this page):
Various phots from Room (Roume) from 2002:
This last photo of from inside a Magbana – normally they are so crowded that there is no space between folks.
— John FS Williams one of the sages in my village:
— The Little Buddah
— “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse
Chapter 7: First CD; First Teachers
Below Chris Pawola and me – photoshoot for “A Touch of Chaos In The Rhythmic Soup”, c.1995. The excerpt tune from the record is called “Terpsichorean In Nature” – it’s the one where we accidentally recorded at the “wrong” speed and turned it around to something that worked very uniquely happens inside Chapter 7!
Below is the artwork from the jewel case for A Touch of Chaos in the Rhythmic Soup, 1995
One of my Guitar Center workshops (then on Belmont and Clark, Chicago). Middle photo: Suzann Robinson, Jeremiah Glauser, me, Paul Friedrich, Terry Reimer, Felix, unknown)
Yaya Kabo and me, c. 1997 – part of the Echoes project, sponsored by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, sessions recorded at PBS, Channel 11 studios, Chicago:
— Dr Stephen Covey, notably, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Below left, me and Amon; right, me, Mona, Amon, Olina, 2025
The Moribayassa Tree, Balandugu Djomawagna, Guinea, West Africa 2007 (photo courtesy of Scott Griffiths and Kellie Pederson):
— Sundjata Keïta – also known as Manding Diara, Lion of Mali, Sogolon Djata, son of Sogolon, Nare Maghan and Sogo Sogo Simbon Salaba) was a prince and founder of the Mali Empire.
Journal Entries: 2003—San Diego, Chicago, and Ireland
— Marcus Aurelius
— me and Master Drummer Madou Dembele (here is a video of him and Master Dununfola Alisco Diabate with my group Kaben Kafö on the Pritzker Stage in Millenium Park in Chicago on July 19th, 2008; that incarnation of Kaben Kafö also included Eric Thomas, Jason “Wolfy” Wolf and Andrew Elbert):
— Photos below me and Madou (that’s John “Johnba” Knecht in the group behind us); me and Leddie Garcia with DJ in “Batterie”; during teaching at University of Northern Iowa as part of Iowa Days of Percussion (thank you Professor Randy Hogencamp):
— “Silence In The Rhythmic Soup” (my third cd; this one for Yoga and Meditation; you can still get CD and download of this here):
— Paul Caldwell with me and the Jubilate Children’s Choir (the bottom 2 photos were from the Ireland tour):
— Malidoma Some
— Robert Pirsig
—Blue7Media, my man Jeremy Williams’ company where Remembering How To Drum; graphic design for my DVD by Derek Fredrickson at Twisted Media
— Grand Master Drummer Famoudou Konate (c.2008-2010):
— Don Miguel Ruiz’ “The Four Agreements“
— Africanesque Folktale—Plurality: The Story of Moribayassa—Mamady and Kadia – like all my Aficanesque Folktales, this one is steeped in my experiences with Mamady, his family and my various travels and experiences with him. This time the scene is my accout of a true story; it is the story of Mamady’s older sister Kadia when her wish was for her brother to return.
Journal Entries: 2005-The Big Tests
— With Mamady c.2005
— Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
— Journey to Ixtlan by Carlos Castaneda
— Here’s Grand Master Drummer Mamady Keita’s school, The Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy, Intl.:
— Mamady Swears hilariously!
— On the boat to Room (Roume) off the coast of Guinea, West Africa:
Some random photos from 2005:
Top to bottom: in class with Mamady, me, Monette, Sekou, Doug, Mamady, demonstrating Zaouli 8; Guinean beer “Guiluxe”; typical road in Guinea; me and Bill with our Tambin (Fula Flute) teacher at the time, Kikala Oulare; lastly, me on a nap break from studying for the BIG TEST!
— The I Ching – for various reasons, I like Brian Browne Walkers translation
— Akaran Iko Iko (Learn Again, Again) (2005) – my second DVD project – this time me and Mahiri had the idea created it asked Menes Yehuda to join us! This is a great practice DVD with with ensemble technology I first created on my first DVD Remembering How To Drum (2003). The name was given by Mamady Keïta when we asked his permission to do this project. Mamady says about the project:
“Akaran Iko Iko is very good, very easy to understand, the pedagogy is very good and at the same time will make you laugh. My advice is that every student should have this video in their library.”
— Grand Master Drummer Mamady Keïta
Here’s the master for the jewel case graphic:
— “Sundjata: An Epic of Old Mali” translation by D.T. Niani
Chapter 9: The Inclusive “OR”
— Don Miguel Ruiz, author of “The Four Agreements”, plus a Fifth Agreement!
— If you’d like to see the Six Taylor’s, click here!
— “Begin with the End in Mind” – Habit #2 of the “7 Habit of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey
— Journal Entries: 2007—Yo-Yo Ma and Performance Tour in the Birthplace of Mamady Keïta
Master percussionist Shane Shanahan, Yoyo Ma, me.
— Divide and Rule: The Partition of Africa, 1880–1914 by H.L. Messeling
My 2-kitty 2-doggie family at the time: Jedi chihuahua’s Leia and Yoda; Legolas (the Elven kitty) and Yoda; Shishi, Yoda, Leia c. 2005
Our route to Mamady’s village Balandugu Djomawagna, Guinea, West Africa
Douda Kourouma, Karamo Dama, Sekou Konate (our AK-47 totin’ military escort)
Cola nuts
Quinn and I decided to set up tents to be closer to nature while in Balandugu Djomawagna.
The documentary film that was produced from this trip, Messengers of Tradition, can be seen on Monette Marino’s (she was one of the first recipients of at Tam Tam Mandingue Certificate, was married to Mamady for about a decade, is the mother of Nasira (in the photo above; the last child of Mamady) and is a dear friend of mine) YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z0iWZBIIWJA
Some of the significant places Mamady brought us to in Balandugu Djomawagna – the upper left photo is Da Kuruni (the mouth of kuruni). Kurunin is a small hill in Balandugu Djomawagna where 3 spirits live that protect the village and are the source of Mamady’s spiritual power. The other photos are labeled on the photo.
Here are some various photos of Balandugu Djomawagna, 2007:
1st row: the spare tire that wouldn’t fit; Hotel Bate; Tabaski prayer.
2nd row: Kondin; a kassa; me driving a magbana (no one was harmed…..that I know of).
3rd row: pitstop in Mamou; one of our Magbanas; Bruce Rudolph (aka “Brucestapha”, the creator of the documentary film “Messengers of Tradition” and one of the first folks who earned a Tam Tam Mandingue Certificate in the 1990s).
4th row: typical morning at the water pump (photo courtesy of Ali Thomas); bricks from Balandugu; on the road again.
5th row: a bull (smaller than the one I almost nose-kissed); giant baobab (I think); doggies in Balandugu.
6th row: Mamady’s older brother, the hunter, Fadjimba; one of the times we had car trouble or lost the rest of the group.
This is us drumming for Balandugu Djomawagna for Tabaski, 2007 – by this time I had switched from songban to djembe. Photo courtesy Kellie Pederson.
Photos courtesy of Scott Griffiths and Kellie Pederson (lower right is Kellie, Scott and me) 2007:
Chapter 10: Silence, My Favorite Note
— Silence – the first of my CD’s that I produced, composed, played almost all instruments. Several of the cuts from this record appear between (or as) chapters in my audiobook.
Journal Entries: 2008-2009—Vinx and Japan
— click the photo to get to my man Vinx’s website
Photos from the Japan tour:
Journal Entries: 2010-2011—China
Upper left, me Ning and Tony; middle (left to right) unknown, Tony, me and Funky; right, me with some amazing Chinese musicians from Xinjiang.
Photos with Also Mazza and Tony: top photo is Aldo and me.
Miscellaneous drumming photos in China 2010-2011:
More photos from China about buildings and food…
Chapter 11: Zen and the Art of Djembe Maintenance, Starring My Teacher and Nemesis, Rope
below – me with Yaya at a gig c. 2011; Jeremiah Glauser, me and Yaya c. 2000.
Chapter 12: Drum Circles
— Socrates
At a drum circle in the parking lot of one of the last Grateful Dead shows, Soldier Field, Chicago, 1994
Chapter 13: Paul Caldwell, Tulum, and Malidoma Somé
— Plato
Below upper left, Wood Bone and Steel (Bill Brickey, me, Graham Nelson) 2011; bottom me and Malidoma 2014.
Some photos from Tulum with Grand Master Drummer Mamady Keita et al:
Here are some random photos from 2014 Kauai, including the giant centipede!
And these are some photos of the Sacred Rudraksha Forest on Kauai – Rudraksha the blue berries are used to make prayer beads:
Above are two photos of me and Malidoma 2014 – the one on the right is right after my first divination (on my audiobook, it’s at the end, when I ask “can we get a photo”). Here is a link to Toby Chirstiansen’s 5 Element Drumminng DVD.
Chapter 14: Rhythm Revolution / Funkadesi / Old Town / ASM 1996-1999
Me and my bro film maker, author, musician, environmental activist c. 2020, Josh Fox – the last time I had seen him was when we went cross country together in 1994 with Stark Raving Ensemble.
Above, with my brethen and sisten of Funkadesi c. 2023. This incredible group was co-founded by Baba Meshach Silas and Rahul Sharma
Above, 1995 Guitar Center Workshop – the fellow on the right with the djembe with white rope is Jeff Bodony, who was the connection to Yaya Kabo, Morikeba Kouyate and Idy Ciss et al. Below is the promo shot I used for my “Ordered Chaos” program.
Me on the cover of Old Town School’s magazine 1999 – pre-dreads!
After School Matter photos – top at Raspberry Fest ’21, middle at Doiglass High School c. 2010, bottom at Austin College and Career Academy High School with extra special guest Grand Master Drummer Bolokada Conde, 2018.
Sadly I don’t have any photos of my time at KoSA 2014, but here are some of the names I mention in my book (with links): Aldo Mazza, Greg Bisonette, Glen Velez, Chester Thompson, Jacqueline Acevedo, Ed Uribe, Marcus Santos, Jeff Salisbury
Chapter 15: A Typical Work Week and Typical Gigs
Some of the different places I work: The Old Town School of Folk Music, The Theatre School at Depaul University, The Chicago Waldorf School, Urban Gateways, Sewa Beats USA
Djembe Rig Improvisation – this was an improvisation on what I call my “djembe rig”, which is a djembe, 3 dununs, ankle bells and hand cymbal. I use this rig when I do my DRUMeditation.
A Final Note: The Beat Goes On
Mamady Keïta, August, 1950-6/21/21
Malidoma Patrice Somè January 30, 1956 – December 9, 2021