Mor Thiam

Mor Dogo Thiam (* around 1941 in Dakar ) is a Senegalese percussionist, cultural historian and consultant who is best known for jazz projects. His surname you pronounce " Chahm " from.

Life and work

Mor Thiam is a member of the Dogon ethnic group and began before the age of eight playing drums at the age of twelve years he played for the first time professionally as a musician. The name " Thiam " means in his native language " historian ". His family expresses the history of Senegal by drumming. Thiam plays Tama, Sabar and Djembe.

At the invitation of choreographer Katherine Dunham Mor Thiam be decided in 1968 to move to the U.S., where he worked first at the Southern Illinois University. In St. Louis, he worked with Dunham and with musicians of the Black Artists Group as Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake. 1973 and 1974 he played with the jazz musicians Freddie Hubbard and Lester Bowie. On his first album N'dedi Safarra (1974 ) had BB King and Nancy Wilson.

Later he toured with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company through Europe and took on together with the No World Impovisations ( Jin Hi Kim and Joseph Celli ). As a member of the African- Brazilian Connection to Don Pullen, he played a three albums and was several times on tour in Europe and Japan. He then worked with the World Saxophone Quartet. 1999, he made his with the support of African musicians produced in Dakar album Back To Africa. He performs with his percussion ensemble Drums of Fire.

Thiam supports and advises African American projects in the U.S. such as the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta. He also has Disney World and the musical The Lion King advised, is managing director of Stone Mountain, an institute for African culture, active and leads workshops with African musicians through.

Mor Gueye Thiam Kine Thiams wife is a dancer and came in 1972 in the United States. Currently Thiam lives in Orlando ( Florida). He is the father of Rapmusikers Akon.