JOE

Adeleke Joseph, known to many simply as Joe, is a Djembe drummer, facilitator, and the founder of DRUMTAINMENT ARTS, an African drumming and dance collective based in the UAE. Born to Nigerian and Ghanaian heritage, rhythm has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. At just five years old, he began playing drums in church, where he first experienced the power of music to unite people beyond words. What began as a childhood fascination soon became a lifelong calling.

Growing up surrounded by the rich musical traditions of West Africa, Joe developed a deep respect for the cultural stories carried through rhythm. For him, drumming was never simply about performance. It was about connection, community, and the invisible energy created when people gather around a shared beat. These early experiences continue to shape the way he approaches every performance, workshop, and drum circle today.

Through rhythm, movement, and cultural storytelling, Joe creates immersive experiences that celebrate the spirit of African heritage while inviting others into moments of presence and collective expression. His sessions are energetic, participatory, and deeply human, encouraging people to let go of self-consciousness and reconnect with something more instinctive and communal.

With years of experience across festivals, schools, corporate events, wellness gatherings, and private celebrations, Joe has become known for his ability to transform a room through rhythm.

For Joe, the Djembe is more than an instrument. It is a vessel for memory, culture, and connection. Every beat carries echoes of tradition while creating space for new experiences to emerge. His work is rooted in the belief that rhythm is a universal language, one that can bridge differences and bring people together in a way that feels immediate and authentic.

Through DRUMTAINMENT ARTS, he continues to share the richness of African music and dance with diverse audiences across the UAE, creating experiences filled with joy, movement, spontaneity, and belonging.

At Upaya, we welcome Joe as a rhythm keeper and cultural storyteller, bringing the heartbeat of African percussion into a space dedicated to presence, connection, and conscious celebration.