Born in Ivory Coast, drummer and singer-songwriter Namori has been playing drums since his childhood. At 10 years old, he was impressing passers-by in his village, playing on his homemade cardboard drums. Before reaching adulthood, Namori was already playing professionally with renowned African musicians and by 1993, he had toured the world with Mory Kanté and Salif Keita. That same year, he created Awana, a group he not only fronted and managed, but also played drums and composed for. In 1999, Awana released a second album, Yoff, featuring former UZEB guitarist Michel Cusson. In 2001, Namori moved to Montréal, where he became a popular drummer, collaborating with Jean Leloup and many others. Singing in Gouro, Dioula and French, Namori recently released his third full-length, Question Mark, in 2009.