Ibrahim Saani is the lead singer and drummer in a traditional West African Hausa band called Baba NGida. Ibrahim is also an affiliated scholar at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He grew up in Kumasi, Ghana and started his musical career playing the maracas with a local Hausa band when he was ten years old. From there, he took the opportunity to learn every instrument including the leading drum, djembe, base, konka, talking drum, and harmonica. Ibrahim has traveled widely across West Africa, learned to sing in over seven languages, and draws upon diverse song repertoires from various ethnic groups and Islamic sects. Today, he performs at a variety of events including weddings, naming ceremonies, chief outdooring rituals, Islamic festivals, art openings, and other celebrations across Ghana and the United States. The genre for which they are most well known are the Ghanaian Hausa songs often termed “Hajia-Hajia,” “Amore,” “Simpa,” and “Gumbe” sung at marriage ceremonies, naming ceremonies and other festivals. Typically, their lyrics contain messages of praise, prayer, and female advice that women wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable voicing in everyday life. Ibrahim would be more than happy to teach drumming to anyone who is interested. May Allah bless you all. Ameen.