Nigel Zuniga, born in San Diego, CA has been around Mandingue drum/dance since his conception in the womb. He started off being mentored by members of his community such as Nana Obrafo, and members of Teye Sa Thiosanna Drum/Dance ensemble under the direction of Yiriba Bernard Thomas, who still mentor him today along with Terrance Uzoma Nelson. While in San Diego Nigel also drum/danced under the instruction of artists such as Nimely Napla(Liberia), Moussa Traore(Mali), as well as A lesson from Mamady Keita at the tender age of three. After spending a few years in San Diego, he relocated to the Georgia where he performed with and studied with various companies such as Atlanta’s very own Giwayen Mata, Uhuru Atlanta, An Ka Fo Drum/Dance, Phusion Performing Arts Alliance, AYA(Lakeside High school African Dance Group), and several others. Since returning to San Diego he has continued performing with Teye Sa Thiosanne as well as several well recognized groups in Southern California such as Balandugu Kan, Dembrebrah, TranscenDance, Dembeya, Mo’Rhythm School of Percussion, “Africa in America”, Magatte Fall’s Group Percu, and many more. He has also continued his studies extensively over the past 10+ years studying drum and dance with renowned world and local artists such as Moustapha Bangoura, Grandmasters of jembe Mamady Keita and Famoudou Konate, Munir Zakee, Kahlil Keita Cummings, Weedie Braimah, Musa Abdoulaye Sutton, Magatte Fall, Kara Mack, Babara Bangoura, Kiki Ogulu, KODY ALLEN KITCHEN, Monette Marino, members of Djoli Kelen, neferka ra ankh and many more. Nigel currently performs locally, nationally, and internationally. He is available for performances, jembe/dunun classes, beginner dance classes, jembe kan demonstrations, edutainment, etc. Nigel not only performs but supports all the local West African Drum/Dance classes regularly. He plays percussion aside from jembe and dunun. He is available to support other styles of dance via jembe, and collaborate as well. He plays with everybody ^_^ Some of his performance accolades include: - TranscenDance’s “United We Move” 2017 -Jembe Kan @ San Diego State University 38TH Annual MLK Luncheon -Jembe Kan @ 2017 & 2018 San Diego Kuumba Fest -Enhance the Gift 2016 & 2017 Summer Camp(Children’s instructional drumming via buckets) -Nations of San Diego 2017 -Children’s instructional class on Hist., drum, song, & dance w/ Escondido Center for the Arts -The Peace Corps Awards held in Atlanta Ga w/ An Ka Fo Drum/Dance Ensemble -The Atlanta African Drum/Dance Festival ‘14 -Soul in Motion’s 30th Anniversary Concert Washington, D.C. -Atlanta Metropolitan’s international Student Organization ‘14 -University of San Diego international Student Organization’s Multicultural Fashion Show ‘18 -Atlanta’s Global Winter Wonderland -Sweet Auburn Festival Atl, GA -Dance Africa Atlanta -The Dogwood Festival Atl GA -Atlantis Hotel/Resort creator(Sol Kerzner) 80th Birthday Anniversary Bahamas -Taliah Waajid 18th Annual World Natural Hair Show Atl GA -International Children’s Day @ the Aquarium of the Pacific Longbeach, CA -Africa in America’s “For our Boys” -Kham Sa Thiosanne(know your roots) w/ grammy award winning percussionist Magatte Fall -The San Diego international Auto Show -Maker Faire San Diego @ San Diego Auto Musuem Balboa Park