Juldeh Camara (born 1966, Basse,

Gambia The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. Geographically, The Gambia is the List of African countries by area, smallest country in continental Africa; it is surrounded by Senegal on all sides except for ...

) is a

griot A griot (; ; Manding languages, Manding: or (in N'Ko script, N'Ko: , or in French spelling); also spelt Djali; or / ; ) is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. Griots are masters of communicatin ...

, as well as an internationally followed blues musician and recording artist who has appeared on 21 albums. He is known for his instrumental virtuosity and for his collaborations with European, African, and other artists.http://www.worldmusic.co.uk/juldeh_camara WorldMusic.co.uk Juldeh Camara His instrument is an African one-string fiddle, known as Nyanyero in his native

Fula language Fula ( ),Laurie Bauer, 2007, ''The Linguistics Student's Handbook'', Edinburgh also known as Fulani ( ) or Fulah (, , ; Adlam script, Adlam: , , ; Ajami script, Ajami: , , ), is a Senegambian languages, Senegambian language spoken by arou ...

or Riti in the

Wolof language Wolof ( ; , ) is a Niger–Congo language spoken by the Wolof people in much of the West African subregion of Senegambia that is split between the countries of Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, ...

. He grew up in

Casamance Casamance is the area of Senegal south of the Gambia, including the Casamance River. It consists of the Lower Casamance (, —i.e. Ziguinchor Region) and the Upper Casamance (, —i.e. Kolda and Sédhiou Regions). The largest city of Casamance ...

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

, living with his blind father Serif."Gambia: Legends - Juldeh Camara: the International Fula Musician Taking Gambian Music to the World"
, AllAfrica.com, ''The Daily Observer'' (Banjul), 17 October 2014. His father taught him to play. There is a family or local tradition that his father had his eyesight taken by

Djinn Jinn or djinn (), alternatively genies, are supernatural beings in pre-Islamic Arabian religion and Islam. Their existence is generally defined as parallel to humans, as they have free will, are accountable for their deeds, and can be either ...

in return for learning music from one, and that the sound of the Djinn in can also be found in Juldeh's music. Growing up in upper Gambia to a legendary ritti player Sheriff Camara, it was not until age 5, Juldeh Camara began watching his father play the nyanyeru, the ritti. It came a point the young Juldeh cried whenever his father refused to give the ritti to fiddle with it. As the father, Sheriff Camara continued his musical tours in Basse sometimes with reputable politicians like the former vice president of the Gambia Assan Musa Camara, by now Camara had started to fine-tune his fingers with the rhythm of the nyanyeru In June 2014, after touring with the band since late 2012, Camara appeared as part of the Sensational Space Shifters with

Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin from its founding in 1968 until their breakup in 1980. Since then, he has had a successful solo ca ...

at the 2014

Glastonbury Extravaganza Glastonbury Extravaganza (also known as Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza and previously as Glastonbury Classical Extravaganza) is an annual music event held in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey in Glastonbury, England since 1996. The event is hel ...

Discography

Juldeh Camara has appeared on the following albums: *''Ancient Heart - Mandinka & Fula Music of the Gambia'' (1990) *''Tramp'' (1993) *''Klapp'' (1995) *''Hiptodisiac'' (1997) *''Dee Ellington'' (1997) *''New-York Paris Dakar'' (1997) *''Gis Gis'' (1998) *''Millenium Drum Salute'' (1998) *''Kairo Sounds of the Gambia'', various artists (Arch Entertainment, 1999) *''Moto Moto'', Batanai Marimba (2000) *''Mudzimu Mudzimu'', Batanai Marimba (Sterns, 2002) *''Madirisa'', Daykil Chosan Group (2003) *''ZubopGambia Live'', ZubopGambia (2004) *''The Drummer'', Boka Halat (Taps, 2004) *''Afro-Mandinka Soul'', Seckou Keita Quartet (ARC Music, 2006) *''Soul Science'',

Justin Adams Justin Alexander Adams (born 22 July 1961) is an English guitarist and composer who works in blues and African styles. Biography Born in London, the son of a diplomat, Adams spent some of his early childhood growing up in Egypt, before returni ...

and Juldeh Camara (World Village Records, 2007) *''Kanaké'', Ebraima Tata Dindin Jobarteh (2008) *''Tell No Lies'',

and Juldeh Camara (Real World Records, 2009) *''The Trance Sessions'',

and Juldeh Camara (Real World Records, 2010) *''In Trance'' - JuJu (band of Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara) (Real World Records, 2011) *''Traders'', Julaba Kunda, Juldeh Camara, and Griselda Sanderson (Waulk Records, 2011) *'' Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar'',

and The Sensational Space Shifters (Nonesuch Records Inc., 2014 - 7559-79542-1)

External links

Page about ZubopGambia and their relationship with Juldeh CamaraAnother site that talks about ZubopGambia and Juldeh Camara

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Camara, Juldeh Living people Gambian musicians 1966 births