Mor Thiam
Mor Dogo Thiam (* around 1941 in Dakar ) is a Senegalese percussionist , cultural historian and consultant who became known primarily for his jazz projects . His last name is pronounced “Chahm”.
Live and act
Mor Thiam is a member of the Dogon ethnic group and began playing the drums before he was eight, and at the age of twelve he played professionally as a musician for the first time. The name "Thiam" means "historian" in his native language. His family expresses Senegal's history through drumming. Thiam plays Tama , Sabar and Djembé .
At the invitation of the choreographer Katherine Dunham , Mor Thiam decided to move to the USA in 1968, where he initially worked at Southern Illinois University . In St. Louis , he worked with Dunham and with musicians from the Black Artists Group such as Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake . In 1973 and 1974 he played with jazz musicians Freddie Hubbard and Lester Bowie . BB King and Nancy Wilson played on his first album N'dedi Safarra (1974) .
He later toured Europe with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and recorded with No World Improvisations ( Jin Hi Kim and Joseph Celli ). As a member of the African-Brazilian Connection to Don Pullen , he recorded three albums and had several times on tour in Europe and Japan. He then worked with the World Saxophone Quartet . In 1999 he presented his album Back To Africa , which was produced in Dakar with the support of African musicians . He performs with his percussion ensemble Drums of Fire .
Thiam supports and advises African American projects in the USA such as the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta . He has also advised Disney World and the musical The Lion King , is the managing director of Stone Mountain , an institute for African culture, and conducts workshops with African musicians.
Mor Thiam's wife Kine Gueye Thiam is a dancer and came to the United States in 1972. Thiam currently lives in Orlando, Florida . He is the father of rap musician Akon .
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Thiam, Mor |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Thiam, Mor Dogo (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Senegalese percussionist, cultural historian and consultant |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1941 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Dakar |