Yamoussa Camara

Born in the village of Boke, Guinea, West Africa in 1966, Yamoussa Camara took to his drum at an early age. During his sixteen year association as first student then protege of Mohamed Kemoko Sano, choreographer and artistic director of both national companies, Djoliba and Les Ballets Africains, plus founder and director of Les Merveilles d'Afrique, Yamoussa had the distinction of being the youngest lead drummer in Les Ballets Africains. While with the national companies he has toured Europe, Africa and the United States. His drum is featured on the CD's Master's of the Forest, Diya, Eh Allah & both CD and video of Les Ballets Africain's performance in England.

In 1995, Yamoussa immigrated to the United States. Since that time he has performed with numerous companies, including Wosa of Washington D.C. on their Taiwan Tour, an eclectic group of artists at S.O.B.™s in New York City, and a jazz ensemble in New Haven, CT. He taught drum and dance at Yale University for 10 years and has traveled the U.S. teaching, performing, choreographing and polishing presentations for various dance ensembles.

Yamoussa currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA where he teaches dance at Carnegie Mellon University, is on the Culturally Responsive Arts Education (CRAE) Teaching Artist Roster for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, teaches drum and dance workshops for children and adults, and performs with various ensembles in addition to his own ensemble Camara Drum and Dance.

Yamoussa is available for classes, workshops, private drum lessons, and performances in Pittsburgh and anywhere in the US.

For booking email Yamoussa or call 412-403-7502.

“The music and the dancing makes you feel good, makes you feel like you can do something good, It makes you happy with who you are.  I want to bring that feeling to everyone. I want people to feel the joy that is in this music and dancing.”