About Us
Talkin’ the Drum has been teaching drumming, facilitating community events and performing African music for over thirty years.
Talkin’ the Drum is one of the original African drumming companies to emerge in Australia. In the mid-90s, a handful of individuals across this great continent answered the ‘call of the drum’ – Elliott Orr among that first wave.
What began as a weekend hobby became a vocation, and in 1995 Talkin’ the Drum was born. Thirty years on, Elliott remains at the helm as founder, director and principal facilitator, having taught tens of thousands of aspiring drummers throughout South East Qld, the Sunshine Coast and Northern NSW, and performed alongside well-known artists on stages large and small.
But the beautiful reality is that drumming is best when shared, and just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to build something like Talkin’ the Drum. Behind every class, workshop, performance and hand-carved drum is a team – facilitators, performers, drum makers, graphic designers, photographers and film makers – each bringing their own energy, skill and story to the mix. It’s this team you’ll meet at your weekly class, your corporate team-building day, your school workshop or your festival stage. Get to know them below.
Whether you want to watch a performance, learn to play the djembe, organise a workshop for your event, class or team, or take home a drum of your own, the Talkin’ the Drum team is here to help. Keep an eye on our socials for upcoming shows, classes and community jams – we can’t wait to hear from you!
Meet the team
Elliott Orr
Founder, Director, Facilitator, Djembe Craftsman & Master Drummer
Elliott Orr
Founder, Director, Facilitator, Djembe Craftsman & Master Drummer
With thirty years of teaching, performing and making African drums behind him, Elliott is, unmistakably, a man in love with rhythm. The djembe and the dance it serves are inseparable in his mind — a connection that drives him more than anything else. For a drummer, there's no greater honour than fuelling the fire of a dance floor, watching sound turn into movement right in front of you - sound seen in a sound scene!
Elliott first heard the call of the djembe in the early 90s, when only a handful of people in Australia had discovered African drumming at all. He moved from Adelaide to Brisbane in 1994, ostensibly to study Environmental Science at Griffith University — but the degree (which he did finish, with honours) increasingly became the side project, while drumming took over as the real work. In 1995, that shift became official with the founding of Talkin' the Drum.
Since then, Elliott has taught somewhere in the vicinity of 30,000 people how to play, through weekly community classes, schools, the disability sector and corporate workshops across Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, Bali and New Zealand. Twice he's travelled to West Africa to study under master drummers in their own tradition — four months in Ghana and the Ivory Coast in 1997, and two months in Guinea in 2019 — training that gave him a genuine grounding in the cultural roots of the music he teaches, and that he's carried back into every class since.
Now based in Byron Bay, Elliott is as connected as ever to a global community of rhythm lovers, and just as committed to keeping that circle open — extending the network, holding space that's both welcoming and grounded in respect for where this music comes from.
Beyond the classroom, Elliott is a regular performer with Spankinhide, Bobby Alu, Ganga Giri, Larry Guruwiwi, Mood Swing and Chevy Bass, the Palm Wine Ambassadors and Yeshe, and frequently guests with DJs and producers on dance floors around the region. His stages have ranged from Woodford Folk Festival to the Brisbane Powerhouse, the Judith Wright Centre and the opening of GOMA.
Thirty years in, Elliott's focus has shifted from being the one at the front of every room to making sure Talkin' the Drum can keep doing this work for decades to come — which means backing the team who make it possible, and handing more and more of the drum to them.
Tsoof Baras
Facilitator & Musician
Tsoof Baras
Facilitator & Musician
Tsoof Baras is a percussionist, drummer, percussion educator and author with experience ranging from orchestral percussion to hand percussion and traditional drumming styles.
Versatile across Middle Eastern, West African and Afro-Cuban hand drums, Rock, Jazz, Pop and world fusion Drums. Tsoof has worked as a sessional musician for over a decade, performing with touring artists, musicals, large sporting events, corporate clients, and independent musicians with originals projects.
Tsoof came into the Talkin' the Drum family at age 7 when his father, Gal Baras, brought him to Elliott to learn to play the djembe. Since that time Tsoof has become an essential member of the team, facilitating weekly drum classes in Elliott's absence, supporting corporate Team Building workshops on the doundouns and performing regularly with Spankinhide.
Charles Wall
Musician
Charles Wall
Musician
Charles Wall is Bobby Alu, the world-renowned musician, travelling with his ukele and log drums, bringing the tropical vibes to people across this beautiful planet.
At Talkin' the Drum we call him 'Charles Wall of Sound', because he is an absolute powerhouse on the drums. Having played drum kit for a plethora of artists, including 5 years on the international touring circuit with Xavier Rudd, he is the consummate professional.
He plays the Pacific Island log drums like liquid gold, can dance around the conga, bongo and djembe skins with passion and grace and is an absolute boss on the doundouns.
Charles has been an important part of the extended Talkin the Drum team for over 20 years. Through the lockdowns of 2020 Charles joined Elliott from a Byron Bay Studio as he zoomed African drum and dance classes classes into the homes of students across the NSW/Qld border. He calls it 'The Year of the Douns'.
Bangoura Ke
Master Drummer
Bangoura Ke
Master Drummer
Mohamed, aka BangouraKe or more affectionately called "BK", was born in Guinea, West Africa in a village called Bourramya-Koubya. He started to play djembe at five and has devoted himself to becoming one of the best amongst the Master Djembe players of this world. BK was a member of the internationally acclaimed “Percussion de Guinea” and other National Ballet Ensembles of Conakry.
Now living in Australia, BK tours the world teaching and performing djembe. In Guinea he is called “the Lion of Matam”, with “hands of fire”, mesmerising his audiences with out-of-this-world skills, talent and virtuosity.
In 2019 Elliott joined BK with some of his students on a djembe study tour to Guinea, West Africa. Bk frequently makes a guest appearance with Spankinhide, taking the African drum ensemble to dizzy new heights.
Considered to be the Grand Master of djembe in Australia, Talkin' the Drum is incredibly grateful whenever BK brings his hands of fire to the stage. Elliott and BK are very dear friends and one of Elliott's principal teachers. Over 2 decades we have frequently hosted BK in South East Qld and Northern NSW to teach and perform.
Olivia Cosham
Facilitator & Musician
Olivia Cosham
Facilitator & Musician
Liv is an educator/researcher in Psychology of Music at University of Queensland. Her research focuses on the impact of community music-making on wellbeing and human flourishing, and the transferable cognitive benefits of percussion.
Since the age of three, Liv has explored and studied the joys of dance, singing, acting and music making, working as an all-round performer and musician within Australia and internationally. She has performed in theatre productions, jazz ensembles, dance troupes and a variety of bands, and taught classes and workshops in dance, singing, music, movement meditation and body percussion. She works regularly as a percussionist, performing and facilitating African drumming workshops, and provides private sessions for NDIS clients.
Liv aspires to increase awareness about the health benefits of creative play and musical expression, and continue sharing the joy!
Liv began studying with Elliott in 2016 and has been an absolute drum addict ever since, attending both of Elliott's Brisbane drum classes every week. Her vibrant enthusiasm, playing the doundouns while simultaneously dancing, has been an epic source of inspiration for Elliott's students and corporate setting cohorts. Liv is an essential member of the Talkin the Drum team and is developing into one of Australia's leading facilitators of rhythm.
Lansana Camara
Master Drummer & Kora player
Lansana Camara
Master Drummer & Kora player
Lansana Camara, or Sana, is from Guinea, West Africa. He lives between Brisbane, Qld and Guinea Conakry. Brother to Bangoura Ke, Sana comes from a long line of musicians as part of the Griot system within the Susu and Malinke culture.
Sana is a multi instrumentalist, performing with great skill on the kora, djembe, doundouns and balafon. The kora is a 21 stringed African harp that he plays with a beautiful touch while singing with a soft enigmatic voice.
Sana performs solo or accompanied by Elliott Orr (aka Splash Gourdon) on the calabash gourd. A gentle soul with a huge heart, Sana brings an authentic depth of passion, emanating from his heritage and love for the music of his culture.
Vito Calia
Djembe Craftsman & Musician
Vito Calia
Djembe Craftsman & Musician
Vito Calia is the newest member of the Talkin' the Drum team, and we are so lucky to have him join the family.
Of Italian origin, Vito brings with him a high level of attention to detail, with particular skills and experience in the craftsmanship of woodwork. His passion for making each and every djembe both reach its potential and a work of art is truly inspiring.
Having run his own djembe making business, 'Baiame Instrumentos', in Argentina for many years your djembe is in very good hands.
A tasty player in his own right Vito has also joined Spankinhide.
Adama Fakoly
Master Drummer
Adama Fakoly
Master Drummer
Master Drummer Adama Doumbia Fakoly daba Jamjamko, from Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa, was born to play djembe in the traditional style of the Mandinka people. His father was an original member of the Koteba Drum & Dance Ensemble of Guinea, alongside Mamady Keita.
Adama has toured internationally as the lead djembe player of the Mother Africa Circus for 15 years, and more recently in the Australian company, Cirque de Africa. He has performed throughout Europe, Middle East, South Pacific, United Kingdom and Australia, where he has settled.
On a djembe study tour in 1997 Elliott spent 10 weeks in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire. His teacher, Mamadi Ijalit Keita, was also Adama's teacher, and employer, as a drum maker. When Adama left Africa for a life of world exploration through the djembe Mamadi said to him "When you go to Australia you must find this man; Elliott Orr". Some years later Adama found himself performing a season of Mama Africa at the Gold Coast Casino. On the hunt for replacement drum skins he and Elliott were reunited. Since that time their bromance has developed and whenever there is an opportunity to play drums together the friendship becomes ever deeper.
Adama has the warmest heart and the kindest smile. His energy will fill the space with joy and passion!! And damn can he hit that djembe!!!
Guy Anderton
Musician
Guy Anderton
Musician
Guy Anderton is a UK-born, third-generation drummer from the renowned Anderton musical family. A professional multi-instrumentalist since the age of 16, he has spent over four decades performing, recording, and teaching across a wide range of musical styles.
His career has included work with high-profile UK artists, BBC recording sessions, and many years as drummer for Lisa Hunt’s Forever Soul. His studies in African, Cuban, Brazilian and Indian percussion have shaped a distinctive rhythmic approach, while his role as Musical Director for Batala Australia reflects his passion for community music and world percussion.
Holding an HNDip in Music Production and Composition, Guy has been a dedicated music educator since 1994, teaching through institutions including ACM UK and the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, he brings experience, versatility, and a lifelong commitment to music.
Guy's relationship with Elliott goes back to the late '90's where they met at a festival, both performing. Since that time they've collaborated numerous times with Guy playing the doundouns to support countless community and corporate events. Guy is a solid member of Spankinhide, holding down the doundouns with grace and strength.
Recently Elliott and Guy have been working together creating a musical collaboration between Zormiwasa and Batala.
Peter Teys
Faciliator, Musician & Film Maker
Peter Teys
Faciliator, Musician & Film Maker
Peter’s first instrument wasn’t actually the drums—it was the keyboard. In primary school he played in the school band, but his eyes were always on the drummer. While the sensible musical path may have been to continue with melody and harmony, something much older seemed to be calling. It wasn’t a step backwards; it was a step deeper—towards rhythm. Like many kids of the ’90s, Peter then spent countless hours teaching himself Nirvana songs by ear, before graduating to heavy metal and eventually discovering the grooves of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
That journey eventually led him to the bongos, then the djembe, and into the rich world of global percussion. More than 30 years later, Peter sees rhythm as far more than music—it’s a universal language that brings people together, transcending culture, age and words. Alongside his work as a percussionist, Peter is an experienced documentary filmmaker and cinematographer whose work spans documentaries, live performance, commercial productions and legacy films. His passion lies in capturing authentic human stories that inspire connection.
As part of the Talkin’ the Drum team, Peter enjoys helping create experiences where people can let go of the chatter of everyday life and settle into the present moment. Whether behind a camera or behind a drum, he’s drawn to the same thing: creating moments of connection. Somewhere between the first beat and the last, the mind quietens, the group becomes one, and joy has a way of finding its way into the room.