Abubakr has over 40 years of drumming experience. He is widely recognized among other African drummers as a master drummer.

His professional credits include performing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in 1994 while appearing with Ballets Bugarabu, a troupe of dancers and drummers from the Casamanche region of Guinea and Senegal.

As empresario he brought the Ballets Djoliba, one of the two national ballet companies of Guinea, to the United States for the first time to perform at the Apollo Theatre in 1972.

Abubakr often performs on TV and radio and has been featured in the Houston Chronicle and other daily newspapers. His performances have been featured on videotapes, DVDs, and CDs.

Abubakr performs at many large music festivals, including the Houston International Festival, and has performed at jazz festivals in Texas, Louisiana, New York, Boston and elsewhere on the East Coast.

Abubakr performs in professional stage productions such as Houston Christmas Revels and in church musical productions, concerts, clubs and large private parties. He is much in demand for community African cultural celebrations such as Kwanzaa.

Abubakr teaches people of all ages and levels of drumming experience. His students range from first-time beginners to professional drummers who want to learn authentic djembe rhythms and techniques.

Abubakr has a kind, but firm, presence that is excellent with children. He has taught in many school, libraries, and after-school programs, from high school down to  preschool.

 

Born in Africa, Abubakr Kouyate grew up in New York City.

He later lived and studied in Guinea, West Africa, for several years.

Abubakr has over 40 years of drumming experience. He is widely recognized among other African drummers as a master drummer.

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His professional credits include performing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in 1994 while appearing with Ballets Bugarabu, a troupe of dancers and drummers from the Casamanche region of Guinea and Senegal.

As empresario he brought the Ballets Djoliba, one of the two national ballet companies of Guinea, to the United States for the first time to perform at the Apollo Theatre in 1972.

​

Abubakr often performs on TV and radio and has been featured in the Houston Chronicle and other daily newspapers. His performances have been featured on videotapes, DVDs, and CDs.

Abubakr performs at many large music festivals, including the Houston International Festival, and has performed at jazz festivals in Texas, Louisiana, New York, Boston and elsewhere on the East Coast.

Abubakr performs in professional stage productions such as Houston Christmas Revels and in church musical productions, concerts, clubs and large private parties. He is much in demand for community African cultural celebrations such as Kwanzaa.

​

Abubakr teaches people of all ages and levels of drumming experience. His students range from first-time beginners to professional drummers who want to learn authentic djembe rhythms and techniques.

Abubakr has a kind, but firm, presence that is excellent with children. He has taught in many school, library, and after-school programs, from high school down to and including preschool.

He often performs at the Houston Children’s Museum.