USA

Aba Diop

ABA DIOP (AH-bah JOHP) is a master percussionist, composer and arranger from Senegal, West Africa, who is now based in the U.S. Aba brings traditional “talking drum” sabar music to international audiences, joyfully bridging east and west, ancient and modern. When he is not hand-making drums, he is engaging rapt listeners at theaters and festivals throughout the U.S., Europe, and Africa.

AbaDiopYermandeFamily.com

Multiple Offerings

  • Aba Diop & the Yermande Family

    5-piece group
    April-June 2026

  • Aba Diop Trio

    Percussion, kora, guitar
    Available year-round

  • Aba Diop Duo

    Percussion with guitar or kora
    Available year-round

  • Education

    Workshops, lecture/demos, community engagement
    Available year-round

Feature Videos

Press Quotes

  • "Think of it as a jam session featuring Senegalese percussion...perfectly complimenting Medeski's Hammond Organ"

    —The World

  • "You can hear right away that this band delivers full throttle percussion-driven grooves...it's nothing short of electrifying."

    —Afropop Worldwide

  • “Outstanding from the very first beat.”

    Adriame Pontecorvo, PopMatters

  • “An unstoppably percussive African jam band...they even sound like The Grateful Dead on one of their more cosmic flights of fancy.”

    Nigel Williamson, Songlines

  • “Get ready America.Aba Diop, one of the hottest and most in-demand sabar percussionists…has landed with his band in Brooklyn.”

    Afropop Worldwide

  • “Talk about knowing your instrument...[Diop]...takes the traditional beat of the mbalax and turns it into pleasing Afropop.”

    Mark Hänser, The Arts Fuse

  • “Great sounds, great vibes, great tempo...wonderful...that's strong instrumental magic.”

    Rob K, RobK Reacts