Ayende Kenyama Ousseynou Von Hendricks is a Baltimore native and has been drumming and studying the African drums since he was 9 month old. His first drum teacher was his uncle, Shakai Von Hendricks; he gave Ayende his foundation then turned him over to his godfather, world renowned Papa Medoune “Dame” Gueye where continued to develop his language of the djembe, dundun and kutiro drums. At the age of of 10, was when he was introduced to the Sabar drum and taught by the late world renowned and lead drummer Cheikh Tairou M’Baye of Sing Sing Rhythm; where a year later he was invited to join the international ensemble and to date Ayende is the only American member. As Ayende has developed and sharpened his drumming techniques and vocabulary with several of his drum teachers such as Abdou M’Baye, Brigo Gueye, Abdoulaye Toure, Mangue Sylla, Assane M’Baye

Throughout Ayende’s drumming career he’s been afforded a lot of opportunities from performing, to teaching and now serving as the Musical Director of Keur Khaleyi Dance and Cultural Institute, Inc. Ayende has performed with Kankouran West African Dance Company (Washington, DC), Maimouna Keita School of African Dance Inc. (New York), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (New York), The Kennedy Center (Washington DC), American Visionary Arts Museum (Baltimore), The Baltimore Museum of Arts (Baltimore), Nation of Flags (National Harbor), The Ivory Coast Embassy (Washington DC), the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (Washington DC), Charity Fundraiser for former Baltimore Raven’s James Ihedigbo’s Hope Africa (Baltimore), and most recently he lead the African music selection for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Baltimore).

Ayende started teaching at the age of 13 at Goucher College for their Spring semesters. Now he’s teaching a weekly drum tech class at Keur Khaleyi on Saturday afternoons where his youngest student is 2 years old.