Ponda O’Bryan is an all-round percussionist and a very accomplished player of the djembe. In his teens Ponda, was first initiated in the traditional Wintie-rhythmes of Suriname. O’Bryan studied with Raul Burnet, Steve Bosten, Fode Youla, Moustafa Teley Addy and the Conservatory of Rotterdam.



After graduating O'Bryan specialised in West African percussion, taking lessons from Famoudou Konate among other masters. O'Bryan is a specialist in the Hamana-Malinke style.



Ponda O’Bryan played with Africa Djole, Surinam Music Ensemble, formed his own Ponda O'Bryan Afro-drum Ensemble and played with Theo Loevendie, Jasper van het Hof, Fra Fra

Sound and Sosoba among many others.



Ponda O’Bryan is also founder of the Wulabakan International School of African Arts. Ponda is teacher Afro-Surinam and West-African percussion for the World Music program at the School of Music in Amsterdam, and a guest teacher for the Conservatories for Music in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zwolle and Arnhem and educational music programs in public schools. He teaches djembe en doundoun classes, gives private lessons, masterclasses, group coaching, management trainings and percussion and dance holyday arrangements with percussionschool Mi Dushi, in Abene, Senegal every summer and winter.