Biography

Singer, songwriter and drummer, Mohammed Alidu and his band The Bizung Family fuse traditional and contemporary elements from West Africa & Madagascar, creating a totally unique and passionately African sound.

At the heart of The Bizung Family is Master Drummer Mohammed Alidu who was born into a lineage of talking drum players from Northern Ghana. Alidu has performed in many countries throughout the world. In 2004, he spent one year in Madagascar, collaborating with local artists. It was there that he started to compose and perform his unique blend of Afropop music. The songs were not bound by the idea of fitting into the boundaries and structures of a specific musical tradition; they simply rose from a desire to make music that was both compelling and poignant. Much of the band's distinct and original sound comes from his compositions - compositions that pulsate from a percussionist's perspective and contagiously inspire the audience to dance.

The instrumentation that accompanies Alidu's singing ranges from guitar, sax and keyboards to traditional African instruments such as the djembe, talking drum and kpanlogo drum.

*Invited, at 19 years old, to perform at the inauguration of President JJ Rawlings
*Recorded on Peter Gabriel's Ovo: Millennium CD in 2001
*Invited to perform in Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee 2002
*Performed as a solo artist for International Music Night at Albert Hall in London 2003
*Performed WOMAD Festival Singapore 2004
*Performed with Baaba Mal during his US Tour 2006
*Performed with Otis Taylor at Milwaukee Fest 2008
*Performed with Rocky Dawuni at Reggae on The Rocks 2008