About Us
Led by Artistic Director, FOLADE aka Taji Maalik, Drums Are Life, LLC is a group of musicians who offer a wide range of high-quality percussive arts and culture programming. We are a group of highly skilled, passionate artists dedicated to creating an enriching and creative atmosphere.
folade AKA Taji Maalik
Artistic Director
Folade is a second generation musician and multi- percussionist and has dedicated himself to the art of music for over 25 years. At a young age, he developed a passion for working with the youth in his community in New York City that later crystalized and began to manifest in Minnesota through the arts. Training in the art of music, he decided to pursue and continue his interests by obtaining a degree in Child Development. As an educator he shares and directs the same passion for the arts through Drums are Life, an organization that has had a long history of providing programming to youth and adults in the community through cultural awareness, music, song and dance from around the world.
As a percussionist, vocalist, dancer, he has worked with various artists across the globe. His rich performance history ranges from performing at many national and international venues including London, Beijing, and San Francisco. Folade has performed at many national and international venues, including the Jazz Café (London), National Black Theater of Harlem (NYC), International Music & Dance Cultural Tourism Festival (Beijing), Ethnic Dance Festival (San Fran.), just to name a few. In addition, he served as a musical assistant director at the Riverside Church (NYC). Now residing in Arizona, he continues to provide cultural enlightenment and education to the community through the study of percussion music, dance and visual art of the African Diaspora.