About us - History
The History of Wula Drum
Wula Drum was founded in 2006 by Michael Markus, and Tom Kondas, who merged their respective drum businesses. Both established in 1995, (Magbana Drum and Dance NYC and DjembeKan), Tom and Michael were both guided by the vision of crafting and supplying African percussion instruments of unprecedented quality, as well as offering classes and performances steeped in the African Arts.
M’Bemba Bangoura, one of the foremost Guinean master drummers currently living in the USA has also been a key inspiration for the company. He came up with the company’s name. A Susu word, Wula, means something like “forest” (more idiomatically, “deep inside the bush”, where nobody lives). Djembe drums are a core part of the culture in Guinea, West Africa, and it is where Wula’s drum production shop is located.Aware of the shortcomings of the djembe drums they encountered in the market, Tom and Michael sustained a deep interest in enhancing the quality of the drums they played, ultimately leading them to assume sufficient knowledge to craft the drums they really wanted to play: the djembes of their dreams. With Michael known as a percussionist who specialized in Guinea rhythms, and Tom recognized among drum makers in Guinea for the high quality of his drum?making craft, the merger combined their unique skills together to create a synergy for everyone interested in any aspect of Djembe.
Living up to their shared vision, Wula Drum has already succeeded in crafting superior African percussion instruments – a top?of?the?line series of the best?sounding, most durable, aesthetically?pleasing drums – available anywhere. And, as a strong innovator yielding new techniques and processes since its inception, Wula Drum has quickly become the industry leader, setting quality standards to which its competitors now aspire. By also offering, workshops, performances, educational products, teambuilding programs and trips to Africa, in addition to their drums, Wula is in a class unto itself.
Michael Markus
Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Wula Drum, Inc.
As a musician, artistic director and educator, Michael Markus has spent over twenty years performing, teaching and studying West African, Afro-Cuban, and American styles of drumming. Along with a BFA in percussion, he has mentored with accomplished master indigenous artists and travels often to Guinea to learn more. Michael is a visionary and charismatic teacher of drum and dance workshops throughout the United States and Canada. Michael has co-produced and released a CD of his previous group, Magbana, as well as a series of 11 educational percussion CDs, plus a DVD of master drummers from Guinea. As a world music clinician, he has presented at versatile venues ranging from college music and dance departments to inner city community centers. He has regularly developed and conducted workshops for National and International Percussion Conventions, master classes at various Universities, public and private schools all United States, Canada, and Mexico. He has also created commissioned pieces, composing and directing choreography for such groups as Ethos Percussion, which debuted his work at the Symphony Space in New York City. Michael is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of cultural arts and socioeconomic development in Guinea, West Africa where he has based the production end of this company, Wula Drums, where authentically elegant and professional sounding African drums are crafted.
M'Bemba Bangoura
M'Bemba has traveled the world as a performer and teacher of the Djembe drum from West Africa, and is revered for his high level of mastery. As a native of Guinea, West Africa, M'Bemba began playing the djembe at the young age of seven. By the age of twenty-one, he was acclaimed as a master drummer and was invited to play for Ballet Djoliba, the national company of Guinea. Since moving to the US in 1992, M'Bemba is an integral part of the entire drum and dance scene nationwide. He has taught hundreds of students, many of who are now teachers themselves. In addition, he has personally created choreography and developed repertoire for dozens of dance companies worldwide. Working throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, his style is infectious. He has recorded 3 solo albums, and a 2 volumes of DVDS called Wamato: Everybody Look!. In addition, M’bemba has been a guest artist on dozens of other recording projects, videos, and films. Dedicated to teaching drumming, dancing, and about his culture, M'Bemba is one of the foremost ambassadors for Guinean drum and dance!
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