Who we are and what we do.
DRUM CONVERSATION was founded by Uwe Grohn and Ismael Seck in 2004 as a joint German-Senegalese operation. While Uwe Grohn is primarily responsible for the development of creative show concepts and all pre-event organisation, Ismael Seck is an authentic master drummer and energetic entertainer who knows how to excite people with his musical expertise and vivacious approach to things.
His infectious laugh and talent for live entertainment are qualities that can only be experienced first hand. Take advantage of our experience and place your trust in tradition! We will put together an individual team that is perfectly suited to realise your special event, regardless of its size and number of participants.
Ismael Seck
Djembe Drummer and Workshop Instructor / Entertainer
Ismael Seck hails from a traditional West African family of »griots«, talented individuals who act as poets, praise singers and wandering musicians, passing on oral tradition in the name of royals and rulers. Known chiefly as „praise singers“, griots may also use their vocal expertise for gossip, satire, or political comment. Ismael has played his instrument of choice, the African Djembe drum, throughout all of Europe and as a member of many different band formations (incl. Peter Giger‘s »Family of Percussion«). He has been in charge of drum workshops at some of Europe‘s largest African festivals as well as for industry executives. As one of the two founding fathers of DRUM CONVERSATION‘s business idea, he now serves as the company‘s musical director.
Uwe Grohn
Presenter, Djembe Drummer and Primary Business Contact
Uwe Grohn received his first drum set at the tender age of six. Having enjoyed early musical instruction, he continued to expand his rhythmic education over the next 20 years (incl. at Frankfurt’s College of Music, in Cuba and Brazil). Over the years, Uwe has supported countless musicians while also regularly performing on German television himself. In 2005, Uwe toured with SIMPLY RED as supporting act. He is one of the two founders of DRUM CONVERSATION’s business idea and serves as the company’s managing director.
Pape Samory Seck
Djembe Drummer (and Entertainer/ Workshop Instructor, pending on team set-up)
Pape grew up playing a wide variety of traditional Senegalese drums, including the Djembe, Sabar, Tama, Bougarabou and Serouba, and is now a true virtuoso on all of these instruments. His collaboration with various international music groups, including “Music for Life” and Hamid Baroudi, have taken him to places far beyond Europe’s borders, such as Algeria and Australia, for example. He is also director of the traditional Senegalese dance and percussion group, »Afrojant!«.
Ellen Mayer
Djembe and Timbale Drummer
Half-English and half-German, Ellen began her musical education in Hanover, where she initially studied rhythmics. She continued her studies in Munich at the Latin Percussion School and then at the College of Music in Mannheim. Granted a scholarship, she spent six months in Salvador de Bahia, learning to play the Bahian drums at the Universidade Federal da Bahia as well as on the streets of Bahia. Further trips took her to Cuba and Asia. Ellen has toured Germany with Robin Gibb from the BeeGees while also playing with Klaus Meine from the Scorpions and many others. She has been a percussionist for the Kevin O'Day Ballet Company at Mannheim’s National Theatre since 2002, and has composed a variety of musical pieces for the stage.
Fallou Sy
Djembe Drummer (and Workshop Instructor, pending on team set-up)
Fallou Sy joined our team in 2008 and has been an absolute enrichment. He too is a »griot«, having enjoyed the tutelage of his musical mentor, Ismael Seck, in Senegal as a young boy. Normally a quiet individual, Fallou is a bundle of energy on stage, happily sharing his passion and enthusiasm with his audiences. His authentic musical expression and flawless performances with the Djembe drum have helped to turn him into a true percussion artist, a person who time and again goes out to prove how important it is to learn from one’s musical role models while developing one’s very own, individual style.
Tilman Bruno
Djembe Drummer (and On-Site Contact, pending on team set-up)
Raised in a family of classical-music enthusiasts, Tilman Bruno has dedicated his life to music. He studied jazz and popular music at Mannheim’s College of Music while also being granted a scholarship to study African-Cuban percussion at the Instituto Superior de Arte and Conjunto Folklorico Nacional in Havana, Cuba. He spent a year of travel following the roots of percussion music across the globe, living and working as a drummer and percussionist in San Francisco, St. Petersburg and Havana. In the 1990s, he achieved great successes as a percussionist and composer and was featured on various pop charts, MTV and Bravo Hits.
Heiko Himmighoffen
Djembe Drummer (and On-Site Contact, pending on team set-up)
Having completed his musical studies at the Frankfurt Music Workshop under the direction of Cid de Freitas, Heiko now works as percussionist and drummer in a variety of projects and musical styles, ranging from traditional oriental and Latin-American music to jazz as well as improvised and electronic music. He has performed live and in studio with renowned artists, including Brian Eno, Slop Shop, Gabriel Le Mar, Barry Finnerty and the international formation, »Re-Jazz«.
Aziz Kujateh
Djembe Drummer (and Entertainer / Workshop Instructor, pending on team set-up)
Aziz draws his inspiration from the storied traditions of West-African music. Aside from the Djembe drums, he also plays the African harp, known as the Kora, and shares the harmonic diversity of the African continent with his audience with his traditional songs. Having earlier formed his own band in Guinea, he was invited to go on tour in Germany in 1994. Thanks to his many years of stage experience as soloist and support musician, Aziz knows how to interact with his audience, conducting his drum workshops with great flair and a charming attitude.
Ousmane Mbodji
Bass Drums and Logistics
There’s much more to Ousmane than simply his good looks. He applies the knowledge of his musical background to every instrument he plays, although he specialises in bass drums. Born in Senegal, Ousmane grew up playing the full range of his home country’s percussion instruments and now looks back on a colourful life inspired by music. He has in the meantime founded his own club, which concentrates in particular on introducing the world to the richness and beauty of African art and music.
Uli Boortz
Bass Drums and Logistics
Uli started his musical career at the tender age of three, banging away on pots and pans (probably driving his mother mad). In early years, prior to his confirmation, a young and open-minded pastor introduced him to gospel music, which he started playing with great enthusiasm. Musical education at various music schools followed; at the end, however, Uli decided to take a different professional path. Today, the DRUM CONVERSATION team profits from his many years of experience in the areas of organisation and logistics as well as his expertise in bass drums and stage performances in general.