Drumming to a world beat

Gloucester Times - Weekender - January 27, 2000

The world beat band Mamadou Diop and the Jolole Band will play at Cameron's tomorrow evening.

This is the beginning of a schedule that will see the band performing at the Main Street restaurant approximately every six weeks.

Musicians from Senegal, West Africa, the Czech Republic and the local area combine West African rhythms and lyrics with powerful percussion jams to produce a unique, high-energy sound that sets feet and spirits to dancing.

Vocalist Diop, who plays rhythm guitar and hand drums, is accompanied on stage by master drummer Ibrahima Camara on djembe, sabar and tama (talking) hand drums, lead guitars Pavel Jirka, John Pfister on bass guitar and Ted Sillars on drums.

Camara, who plays traditional hand drums, came to America more than 25 years ago and was one of the first to introduce African music to this country. Over the years, he has performed with Stevie Wonder and saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders.

Jolole Band members first met at an artist's loft party in Salem when Mamadou asked to sit in with Sillars, Pfister and Pavel, who had been playing together for the past year. The band was formed and Mamadou asked Ibrahima to join them. They are now in the last stages of completing a CD that will feature 12 of their songs.

Jirka to America from Czechoslovakia in 1982. He fled the then oppressive communist regime by pretending to go to Yogoslavia on a trip. In his country, musicians had to get a permit to start a band and their music was heavily censored.

Diop was born in Senegal, West Africa. He is one of the most respected rhythm guitarists in his country and an accomplished sabar drummer. He has an extensive musical resume and has performed with the most celebrated musicians of Senegal.

Diop came to the United States in 1996 and joined Camara's world beat band, Safal. Camara welcomed Mamadou into his home and his music business. In 1998, Diop formed Mamadou Diop and the Jolole Band, performing original music that combines African rhythm and lyrics with rock and reggae influences.

Along with performing, Mamadou, a member of the Sonike tribe, teaches about African life and culture, as well as a weekly drum class for adults and children.

"In Africa, the expression of rhythm is used to make a connection with the soul. Rhythm is everything. It is used for all things in daily life: to communicate from village to village, to heal sickness and depression, to celebrate a marriage, as well as to mourn the dead. All of htese things that rhythm represents in Africa, I want to give to my music. It is my wish for this music to be in direct contact with the sould of the audience, and to lift up their spirit and to bring a sense of freedom to their minds," Diop said.