YES!! That's right ...the Tunrtables. As a child born in the 70's & rasied in the 80's, he witnessed the dawn of HIP-HOP. Kojo was and still is a child of HIP-HOP Culture, from the 5 elements he took to the Knowledge, B-Boy/Break Dancing, Graffiti art, M.C.'ing and of course, DJ'ing. He began learning to DJ at 9yrs. old & then out doing parties at 12yrs. with his childhood friend & DJ partner, DJ MUSICROCKA. He continued on DJ'ing throughout his HS & college years which lead into beat making, arragning, producing, and remixing, throughout the 1980's & 90's - then he found the Djembe and a new love was born.

 

Kojo's foundation in the professional performing arts began in 1992 as an apprentice musician/drummer with The Forces Of Nature Dance Theater Company under Master dancer/choreographer Mr. Abdel R. Salaam & Managing Director Smst Sa-Beset Olabamidele Husbands. Under there guidance & leadrership, along with the leadership of elder drummers & master musicians (Randy Alston, Nana Kweyao Agyepon, Michael Wimberly, Philip "Spanky" Williams, Abu Linwood Daniels, Jalil Shariff, & Baba Raymond Gramm) he later became assistant musical director with the company for 4 years performing nationally and internationally. He has traveled with the company to London, England in 1995, Italy 1998 & 1999, Aruba-1996, as well as touring throughout the USA. Among some of Mr. Salaam's signature works that Kojo has worked on are the productions "Terrestral Wombs", Rhythm Legacy" as well as classics "Amazin" & "Cult of the Wolves".  

 

  As a student of history, culture, and music, Kojo has been blessed the honor and privlage of being a student and adopted son of the Grand Master of Djembe MAMADY KEITA, whom he began studing with in 1994. Kojo was first intruduce to Mamady Keita through his freind & brother Mahiri Fadjimba Keita-Edwards after studying djembe with him for 2 years prior.  

 

  As a teaching artist he has worked with many schools, companies & arts orginizations such as: Bronx Preparatory Charter School, Community Works, PURELEMENTS An Evolution in Dance, Inc., The Artist Collective of Hartford, Conn., Harlem School of the Arts, Creative Outlet Dance Theater of Brooklyn, Achievement FIRST ENY Elementary Charter School, Summit Academy Charter School, Brighter Choice Community School, Frederick Douglas Academy VIII Middle School as well as many other public schools throughout NYC.

  

  Kojo has served as the African Percussion Director to the community of Saint Paul Community Baptist Church in their annual presentation of THE MAAFA Suite sense 1998 along with fellow drummers of the Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater Comp.
   
   Bro. Kojo is the musicial director & co-founder for The CRADLE IN THE ROCK -African Dance Youth Ensemble along with Founder/Director Ms. Naeemah Brown housed at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY.

 

  Kojo is a member of the Asase Yaa African American Dance Theatre Company & a supporting parent of the ASASE YAA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. Some additional performances to his credit include the VH-1s HIP-HOP HONORS Tribute to the Hip-Hop Pioner & God Father - Afrika Bambata.