Djembe Tekno

Biography

Djembe Tekno is a collaborative duo formed in Oslo, Norway, bringing together Norwegian producer and multi-instrumentalist Tore Gjedrem and Malian percussionist and vocalist Sidiki Camara. Gjedrem is a veteran of the Norwegian electronic and experimental music scene, previously known for his work as one half of the groovy house duo Ost&Kjex (with Petter "Kjex" Haavik) and his eclectic funk-influenced project Sex Judas feat. Ricky. Sidiki Camara is a highly trained Malian musician, formerly a soloist with the National Ballet of Mali, bringing deep roots in West African rhythmic and vocal traditions to the collaboration.

The duo released their debut album "Teriya" on Oslo-based label Snick Snack Music (October 31, 2025), to coincide with the Oslo World music festival. The album is a richly textured fusion of West African percussion traditions and contemporary European club music, weaving together djembe, balafon, ngoni, and talking drums with production aesthetics drawn from British bass music, batida, house, techno, and breaks. Camara's djembe playing anchors the sound, alongside his chants and sung blessings delivered in his Malian native tongue, while Gjedrem's production frames the organic percussion in modern dancefloor contexts.

Djembe Tekno perform as a live act and have appeared at notable Oslo venues including Jaeger, often as part of Oslo World programming. The project represents a genuine trans-cultural exchange rather than surface-level fusion — Camara's griot-lineage musicianship and classical African training meet Gjedrem's decade-plus experience in electronic production. As of 2026, the duo is an emerging name in Oslo's world-music and club crossover scene, with limited international profile but strong critical framing within that niche.

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Fun Facts

• Sidiki Camara is an ex-soloist of the National Ballet of Mali — one of West Africa's most prestigious performance institutions — bringing formally trained griot-lineage musicianship to an electronic club context.
• The debut album title 'Teriya' is a word in Bambara, the primary language of Mali.
• Tore Gjedrem operates under at least three distinct musical personas: Ost&Kjex (house duo), Sex Judas feat. Ricky (funk/experimental), and Djembe Tekno — each exploring different intersections between African and European club music.
• Djembe Tekno's debut was timed to Oslo World, Norway's premier world music festival, with a live performance at Jaeger — Oslo's leading electronic music club — on the album release date.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• National Ballet of Mali - Sidiki Camara served as a soloist with the National Ballet of Mali, where he received formal training in West African percussion and performance traditions that form the rhythmic core of Djembe Tekno's sound.

Key Collaborators

• Ost&Kjex - Tore Gjedrem is one half of Norwegian house/electronic duo Ost&Kjex (with Petter Haavik), his primary project prior to and concurrent with Djembe Tekno.
• Sex Judas - Tore Gjedrem's funk/experimental project Sex Judas feat. Ricky, which also features Sidiki Camara among its collaborators, drawing on African, disco, and acid house influences — a direct creative precursor to Djembe Tekno.

External Links

• Spotify