It took awhile..

[Paul]

Yes.. after about five years i'm finally getting round to introduce myself (amazing the motivating factor of potential free stuff)..

First started playing (badly) in France in 1999, I spent a two years travelling around the Mediteranean with my drum including most of north africa and the middle east, and it opened so many doors, people were genuinly happy to see a drum from another part of the world and it led me to be invited to many a wedding and party..

Made my first trip to Gambia in 2002, down by land through Morocco, Sahara, Mauritania and Senegal, a brief stop with Ballet Boogerabou and then off to Tomas Camara (RIP) a former member of the Djoliba..

The addiction continued to the the Sahara and the drum continued and I returned to Gambia by land in 2004 and then to Burkina Faso in 2006 and 2008, where I changed focus to kamelle ngoni but continued playing a bit of drum with local carvers and at some fete's..

I've been teaching in Dublin for a few years but have decided to move towards African development so I spent the last three years studying international politics and hope to move to London this year to specialise in African politics and economics (ouch).. Really looking forward to to check out London's drum scene..

Cheers..

[the kid]

Welcome Paul,
Cheers for your contribution to the Irish scene dude. Your self and nGum were renegades hittin Africa and definitely paved the way for more of us to travel there
Any ways hope you win the hi tech comp.
Another 37 posts and you might get a free one

[e2c]

Hey Paul - Nice to finally hear your story! (In a connected way, if that makes sense - have gotten bits and pieces over the past couple of years.)

[James]

Hi Paul, thanks for the intro. Anyone who want the real dirt on Paul, come and talk to me

Good luck in the high tech comp bro

[Paul]

Anyone who want the real dirt on Paul, come and talk to me

Anyone who wants a free kora come talk to me