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Juldeh Camara is one of the undisputed masters of the Riti, (also known as the Nyanyeru). He was born in 1966 in Basse, The Gambia, and grew up in Sariyalla in Cassamance with his blind father Serif Camara who was a Griot and a highly accomplished Riti player himself. It was his father Serif who not only passed on the art of playing the Riti to his son but continued to be his teacher throughout his formative years.
Also a fine singer and composer Camara’s musical collaborations have been very diverse, from traditional Fula music (through working with one of West Africa’s leading electronic bands Ifang Bondi) to recording with Norwegian guitarist Knut Reiersrud and British R&B artist Dee Ellington. Camara’s first recording was in 1990 for Bill Laswell’s Axiom label, produced by Laswell and Foday Musa Suso.
After moving to the UK Camara has recorded with Zubop, Batanai Marimba and Mudzimu Mudzimu, and has toured with Afro Manding Sound and Ifang Bondi.
Since 1996 he has worked as a music teacher ECCO, a Gambian NGO which arranges courses for students studying music from Universities and Academies in Europe.
In 2002 Camara was a featured musician in the critically acclaimed play ‘Elimina’s Kitchen’ by Kwame Kwei-Armah which was performed at the National Theatre in London.
In 2004 Camara collaborated with kora player Seikou Keita as part of his acoustic quartet which toured the UK. Since then he has been working with Boka Halat on a coming together of English folk dnace and West African music. Also involved in this project was fellow Gambia percussionist Musa Mboob. Together Camara and Mboob have since began their own project called ‘ Joko’.
In 2007 Camara began working with the British guitarist and producer Justin Adams. Together they performed at the prestigious Barbican Concert Hall in London as well as going onto share a bill with the renowned Konting (Ngoni) player Bassekou Kouyaté at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC proms.
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