Our story
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Some things simply happen. We didn't start this band out of friendship nor based on any audition. It just happened that 3 of our founding members Andy, Janči and Daniel met at a 2-week workshop of African drumming in Brno...
We hadn't known each other before and we attended the workshop separately with the aim to improve our drumming. However, we all realised on the spot that this was an entirely new and higher level of drumming and music. The workshop was led by Broňa Pavlíček, leader of the band Tubabu, and the second teacher was Igor Holka from the ensemble Afro Campana.
Broňa and Igor showed us how to really play djembe and bass drums (unknown to us back then) and thus we were able to see and experience a purebred djembe and dundun band. We met again after the workshop, and as we all three were living in Bratislava at that time, we saw potential to play together regularly.
Andy succeeded in finding our first practice room (DK Zrkadlový háj) where we laboriously had to bring and carry away all instruments every time. Then, through Andy, other two key future members came to join the band: Matúš and Sisa.
What to do with an established band?
The five of us then started to meet regularly at DK Zrkadlový háj and called our band JAMADAN. We practised rhythms brought from the workshop Veveří, bought first provisional dunduns and held rehearsals two times a week. Andy was the music director and manager then and we played our first concerts in 2005.
How did it come out?
As time went by, we were adding new instruments and started focusing as well on our concert appearance, more complex arrangements and stage show.
When the right time came, we started teaching drum classes as well. We expanded our portfolio by entertaining activities with drums too - team buildings or events for children.
We even experienced more experimental eras, like cooperating with the saxophonist Berco Vitázek, we enriched our rhythms by harmonies and songs of Zbyňo Džadoň, our then-member, and we even indulged ourselves in crazy stuff like running around drums, playing in welding gear, using comic bubbles, rapping, drumming on cans of Pringles, playing on the roof of our car,etc.
Then came the milestone of celebrating the first 10 years of our band in the club Batelier with our first teacher Broňa Pavlíček performing as our guest with his project Tubabu Duo. It didn't take long and we got to celebrate the 15th anniversary with the help of a super group from Senegal Tam Tam D'Afrique Junior.
We continuously seek inspiration at different workshops. Daniel, for example, spent 5 weeks in 2016 in Guinea Conakry, West Africa with the djembe master Bolokada Condé. To this day, Jamadan practices 2 times a week, just like during our early years in 2004. (Read more about the journey on our blog article.)
And what's next? We want to continue, entertain people, learn and teach new rhythms, have fun and be artistically free and independent. We are like a family, just like any other band with longevity like this. We are friends for life and two of us, Daniel and Sisa, even got married in 2017.
Teachers
We never forget where we come from and what our roots are. We play professional concerts and are expert teachers of the African language on drums. However, we will forever pay respect and show gratitude to our teachers and masters who passed their best knowledge to us and paved the way for us.
Broňa Pavlíček, leader of the band Tubabu deserves a special position. We actually met as a future band at his workshop and Broňa´s rhythms and influence can be felt in our entire repertoire. Broňa has a legendary and unimitable style of phrasing and we have been attending his annual week-lasting workshops without a single break since 2004.
At the same time, let us mention Igor holka. Igor is based in Nitra as a percussionist and leader of the band Campana Batucada and he has defined the term “drum show” as an event category in the Slovak environment. Igor passed his knowledge to us as the very first Slovak and continues to support us to this day.
And then there are African teachers - foundations of the African drumming language were taught to us by Thierry Ebam based in Bratislava, and then most notably Bolokada Condé, whom Daniel visited directly in Africa, furthermore, Assane Fall, a percussionist from Senegal who taught us how to play sabar drums. We took part in workshops of masters like Mansa Camio, Mamady Keita, Drissa Koné, Thomas Guei, Ibrahima Condé, Mohamed Masta Bangoura, Mohamed Bangouraké Bangoura, Koungbana Condé, Tonton Sylla, Dartagnan Camara, Dussou Touré, Babel Thian, Amadou Fola and many others.
Band members
Dano
art direction, solo djembe, management, head for arrangements
Sisa
solo djembe, dundun, explosion of energy
Matúš
solo djembe, dundun, balafon, stage athletics
Biba
bass drums, balafon, strict control over the tempo
Jakub
bougarabou, conga, face expressions
Lubita
djembe, dundun, yabara, motion and interaction
Janči
bass drums, djembe, krin, independence of hands
Stela
bass drums, djembe, krin, independence of hands
Dušan
bass drums, djembe, krin, independence of hands
Former members
The core of the band plays together to this day: Daniel, Matúš, Sisa a Janči. Other members came and went and stayed.
Among those who stayed with us a little longer we need to mention Andy Strnád, who actually formed the band and was its first leader and manager.
We enjoyed great music moments with Zbyňo Džadoň, who brought melody, vocals, bass guitar, and a lot of creative ideas.
Jamadan will always have a soft spot for Stela Bobríková - Stela approached us as a total beginner and worked her way up and became an accomplished dundun player and drummer with immense talent.
Other former members are: Martin Balaj, Patrik Kridla, Jožko Gorel, Mišo Bránik and Matúš Fila.
News (in slovak)
Fresh news from our band life, concert reports and anything our hands drum about.
Frequently asked questions
Všetko, čo vás zvykne zaujímať o našej kapele, vystúpeniach a africkej hudbe všeobecne.
How is the price of a performance calculated?
The following factors influence the price: the nature of the requested program, the length of the performance, the distance of the event location, and similar considerations. For workshops and drumming sessions, the number of instruments we need to bring also plays a role.
We are happy to work with each client individually and calculate a tailored price. Contact us via the contact form, by phone at +421 904 996 650, or by email at jamadan.ba@gmail.com.
How long does a standard performance or workshop last?
It is always a matter of agreement with the client and the nature of the requested program.
It can be an hour-long concert or a 20-minute drum show, or an energetic 5-minute opening for an event. An interactive workshop for adults/drumming session usually lasts 45–50 minutes; for kindergarten children, a maximum of 35 minutes is sufficient.
What equipment do you need for a performance?
If we perform on stage in the form of a concert and in larger spaces, we need sound reinforcement with microphones (we send the stage plan to the sound engineer in advance). Our drums are naturally loud, but we also have melodic instruments (balafon) and singing, and sound reinforcement is definitely recommended for the best experience.
If we perform in smaller spaces, e.g. as a drum show, or need to be in motion, we can perform without amplification. It is always a matter of agreement with the client and the nature of the program. More information in the Concerts and Drum Show sections. Don't hesitate to contact us with further questions.
What types of events do you specialize in?
We offer our music production in the form of standalone concerts, whether in a club or at a festival. You can also book us in a shorter format as a drum show — a program for events, corporate events, public celebrations, weddings.
In addition to being a musical group, we are also drumming instructors and animators: we can bring an interactive drumming workshop to any collective, company, conference or event and create an entertaining drum orchestra together. We also organize drumming in schools and kindergartens.
How can we book the band for a performance?
You can use the contact form on our website or send an email to: jamadan.ba@gmail.com. You can also reach us by phone at +421 904 996 650.
Is drumming difficult to learn?
In our opinion, it is not. Even a non-musician can quickly grasp the basics of drumming. You do not need to read music, know chords or understand music theory. The djembe is a very intuitive instrument and even a complete beginner can play the first rhythm in just a few minutes.
Of course, anyone who wants to play the djembe at a higher level must practice regularly, just like with any musical instrument. If you'd like to learn to play African instruments, we'd be happy to help. More information on the Drumming Courses page or the Online Djembe School page.
Do you always provide your own instruments for workshops?
We will always bring our instruments to the workshop/drumming session and it is included in the price. If you have your own drum that you want to play — we encourage you to bring it. More information on the drumming courses page.
What is the minimum/maximum number of participants in a workshop?
We have approx. 100 drums and percussion available. We can bring that many when you invite us to your event or school.
The number of participants is always a matter of agreement and the type of event — sometimes it is great to work in smaller groups. At regular drumming courses we have a collective of approx. 12 drummers.
What types of courses and workshops do you offer?
We offer drumming:
- as a fun activity for companies and various groups — a drumming session can be an excellent program at corporate events, teambuilding events, parties, conferences, or weddings
- for children in schools, kindergartens, at children's parties or in children's camps
- as a regular drumming course every Thursday in Bratislava (mixed group — suitable for beginners and advanced)
- at special courses and workshops for more advanced drummers who already have some experience and want to go deeper
Do I need previous drumming experience to join a course?
No previous experience is necessary. The advantage of the djembe is that even a complete beginner can pick up the basic rhythm within a few minutes — whether it's an adult or a child. When we bring drums to groups, we do it in a way that everyone can get the hang of it.
We also offer courses for advanced drummers and professionals, where previous experience is essential.
What should I imagine under "African rhythms"?
By African rhythms we generally understand music dominated by the rhythm and sound of drums. Drummers can all play one rhythm at a time, but usually each instrument (drum) has its own rhythm and its own sound, and together they create a single whole.
The rhythms complement each other or even go through each other in opposite directions. Our African rhythms come from Guinea and Mali, and are specifically played on the djembe and dundun drums. We also have melodic instruments, but the drums themselves, when properly tuned, create melodies that are both danceable and hypnotic. Find out more about the instruments in the African Drums section.
Do you sing or dance during the performances?
In addition to drumming, we also sing in the languages of various African ethnic groups. We are not professional dancers, but it is natural that we move during the performance and create choreographies that enhance the experience of our music. More about our performances in the Concerts or Drum Show sections.
What is the difference between the djembe drum and other hand drums?
The djembe is probably the most famous global musical instrument. It spread all over the world after it started playing a major role in the performances of the Guinean national ensemble (Les Ballet Africains) in the late 1950s.
People love it because it is loud and can play a variety of sounds and melodies. It can be tuned quickly and even a complete beginner can play the basics in a few minutes. There are many types of hand drums in Africa (and worldwide), but the djembe is the most popular and widespread. More about African drums can be found on our African Drums page.
What instruments do you use when performing?
We play a wide variety of African drums and percussion. The basis of our sound is the djembe and bass drums — dunduns. The sound is coloured by the conga/bougarabou, log drums called the krin and the balafon (African xylophone). We also have rattles, bells and small percussion. We want our music to be a real audio trip to Africa for the listener.
Where do the rhythms you play come from?
We play rhythms from West Africa, mainly from Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso. More about our influences and instruments can be found in the African Drums section or in the Our Story section.
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