Musicians

Brotherhood of the Jug Band Blues

Double Entendre Music Ensemble

Najib Bahri

Born in Tunis, Najib Bahri is an inheritor of the Andalucian music tradition. He is a master percussionist on darbouka (goblet drum), bendir (frame drum), and riq (tambourine) in the Maghrebi classical and folk styles. Najib began playing darbouka at age eight with his father and uncles in theaters for Tunisian national television. At age 16 he attended the Tunisian National Conservatory of Music, and later, while studying in France, performed in Parisian nightclubs and other venues. Over the years, he has researched different world rhythms and accompanied some of the most prestigious musicians of the Arab world.

He prefers playing the traditional clay darbouka with the stingray skin because of the natural and fine acoustic qualities governed by the atmosphere, humidity, and temperature of the environment. Najib also leads the musical group El Amal (Arabic for "Hope") and offers a unique sound, which he coined North African dance grooves.