Baba Jubal is an African American born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His great, great grandparents were brought to the Carolinas as slaves from Gambia, West Africa. He began learning African rhythms at age 13 from Julius Renford “Flash” Ford a drummer of Caribbean and African heritage. Baba Jubal is a third-generation pioneer of African drumming and drum-making in the United States. His art form originates from the royal craftsmen of the Bambara and Manding people. The tradition has been handed down through the following families: Diakite, Kanuteh, Susso, Jabate, Kouyate, Diop, and Konteh. The musical instruments and the music they produce are critical to maintaining social, religious, and ceremonial communication and cultural continuity.

Ohio Heritage Fellowship Information
Baba Jubal received a 2015 Ohio Heritage Fellowship for Material Culture. Baba uses imported African woods and materials to make his drums. He adheres to traditional hand-made methods in his artistic process. The description of this process varies depending on the type of drum and intended function either ceremonial or entertainment. He sells commercial drums as well.
Baba Jubal is a master artist in the OAC’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program with multiple awards, recipient of a Creative Workforce Fellowship from Cleveland’s Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, and has been nominated for an Ohio Governor’s Award. He has conducted drum-making and playing residences and workshops for Metro Health Hospital in Cleveland, The Upper Arlington Arts Festival, Mid-Ohio Art and Culture Festival, and West Side Catholic Homeless Children’s Center in Cleveland. He has conducted arts education residencies throughout Ohio as an OAC Arts Learning roster artist. He is the founder and facilitator of Heart Beat Drum Circle, Ohio’s largest public drumming event.