"Papa" Ladji Camara was the first Djembefola, who made the Djembe popular in the West, especially in the USA
Ladji Camara was born on 15 June 1923 in Norassoba, a village in Siguiri, Guinea. At the age of two and a half years he began learning the djembe on his own. By the time he was six years old he was one of the lead drummers playing in the village celebrations.
He settled in Bamako in 1946, where he farmed and drummed. He became famous there for his drumming. This is how Ladji became one of the most famous soloists for Les Ballets Africains, Guinea's national ballet.
During his world tours with the national ballet, Ladji Camara made friends in New York and settled there. He opened his own school in New York called
Ladji Camara African Dance Studio.
Papa Ladji moved to Pikine in Dakar, Senegal, in 2001. He died there on 23 October, 2004, aged 81, leaving 5 children and many more students and fans who called him "Papa".

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