An African Music Band Fundraising for an African School

In 2005, Oumar released his first music recording and subsequently formed the Sindoolaa African Music band. Calling on influences from Oumar's home village of Diatock, Casamance (Southern Senegal), the music fuses traditional West African and contemporary roots, enrapturing audiences with a unique sound. The band was just filmed by The Africa Channel in Chicago, a one hour show that will be broadcast worldwide. Sindoolaa will be releasing a CD and a DVD this year.

Sindoolaa music band is composed of musicians native of Senegal (West Africa) and Milwaukee (Wisconsin, USA ), where it is based.The current Sindoolaa members are Oumar Sagna on lead vocals, ekonting, percussions , kalimba and balaphon, Olusegun Sijuwade and/or Aaron Gardner on Sax and flute, Carl Nichols on rhythm guitar , Jeff Green on lead guitar and second vocals, the two wonderful dancers Miriam Levie and Naima Adedapo on second vocals, John Simons on Bass (Bass substitutes: Patrick patterson and Theodore Stribling) , Jeffrey ‘Omar’ Phillips on drum set, Yaya Kambaye or Keba Diebate on Kora, kotiro drums and tama (talking drum), Patrice Nassalang on masquerade dance, Mohamed Sene on Sabar drums and Bougarabou. Not only does Sindoolaa play original music from Oumar’s cultural background, but it also brings you African Reggae and Salsa, Soucouss music, and more. Sindoolaa music keeps you on the dance floor all night. In Senegal Oumar works with Batiyaye, his home band you can hear here www.myspace.com/batiyaye .

Oumar Sagna from Senegal, West Africa grew up in the midst of African traditional music as it has always been a daily part of his people's life. Drumming, singing and dancing accompany celebrations, cultural and religious ceremonies, farming and community gatherings. He was raised by his grandmother in a small village at the border of Senegal and Guinea where he had mostly been influenced by the Guinea Malinke Culture popular for its Djembe drumming and dance. Oumar learned to play various instruments very early on. Being from the Joola tribe of Casamance, Oumar learned to play the main musical instruments of his village people : The Gorongorong ( a big log of tree carved in the middle and played on the rims with soft wood, the set of four big drums called Bougarabou and the set of three drums (Kotiro). He later on decided to persue Djembe drumming .

Since there was no junior high or High school in his village (DIATOCK), he had to go to nearby cities to continue school and eventually get a Bachelor's degree in French and English at the University of Dakar, along with a teaching degree at Ecole Normale Superieure teacher training college in Dakar Senegal in 1996. It is mainly in the Cities of Senegal that Oumar met most of the drumming groups and excellent drummers he worked with to sharpen mainly his Djembe Drumming techniques.

Oumar came to America in the fall of 1997 as part of an international teaching exchange program. First in Maine, he gained the eye of the media and made it to the front page of the main local papers, was heard on the radio and appeared on TV several times. He then came to Milwaukee in the fall of 1998 where he resided since then. Once in Milwaukee, he soon was discovered by Milwaukee Public Theatre and was among the cast of "Tales from The Nile," an African based tale play. He is still working with that company as an independent contractor. He provides services in schools and organizations as a percussionist, story teller and dancer.
He is currently teaching French and African drumming at Milwaukee Montessori School.

ABOUT DIATOCK ELEMENTARY/Junior High SCHOOL
Once again, with the assistance of Milwaukee Montessori School and your support, Oumar hopes to realize one of his dearest dreams: build a Library for the children of Diatock Elementary/Junior High School. A library equipped with books and computers. For any donation you make beyond the admission ticket, you will receive a receipt to file with your taxes.

Diatock Elementary School where Oumar went to school as a child in his homeland village in Senegal, West Africa, has always been one of the poorest. Oumar has decided to come to the rescue of the children of the school. In 2004 he organized periodic drum circles and raised funds to help build classrooms and provided school supplies and clothing for the children. In 2007, Milwaukee Montessori School community helped him raise funds that allowed him to have student desks made for the Elementary school classrooms and the freshly built Junior High. The people of his village have largely appreciated his caring and effort and are very thankful that people in America are doing what they are doing to help them. Your contribution is never too little or too big for a cause like this.