REMO’S key-tuned djembe has had great success as the most user friendly djembe in the world. With features like portability, tunability, durability, and playability it’s no wonder why it is the choice for thousands and thousands of professional and recreational drummers for years. This beautifully designed drum exemplifies Leon Mobley’s passion for playing the djembe drums as well as his deep rooted respect and devotion for the traditions of his ancestors from Africa. Leon Mobley’s believes in Unity, Peace and Passion for playing the djembe drum and shares his joy with the world whether on stage with Ben Harper or in a drum circle.

The new Leon Mobley fabric finish is designed by REMO’S top graphic artists using state of the art equipment and technologies while working closely with Leon’s vision and inspiration. The Leon Mobley finish is one of the new fabric finishes in REMO’S DESIGNER’S TOUCH graphic arts line. Designer’s Touch Finishes by Remo Featuring original designs created by our own graphic artists, the Designer's Touch finishes use state-of-the-art technology to transfer artwork directly onto fabric. This process enables us to create unique graphics on our instruments with incredibly rich, vibrant and durable imagery.

History
The Adinkra symbols represent popular proverbs and maxims, record historical events, express particular attitudes or behavior, or concepts uniquely related to abstract shapes. The Adinkra symbols are found on several traditional cloths produced in Ghana, Africa. Another well known cloth is the Kinte Cloth.

	Donno ntoaso: (Duno-n-toa-so) United action, alertness, praise & good will dono=a drum ntoaso=follow up or carry on dono ntoaso=double drum
	Gye nyame: (Sje-n-ya-me) Reflects God’s power over all of his creation. Gye – except nyame – God
	Bi nka bi: (Be-n-ca-be) He who does wrong is wrong himself. Peace, harmony.
	Nkonsonkonson: (corn-song-corn-song) A chain, or a link - represents unity, responsibility, brotherhood and interdependence.
	Sankofa: (san-ko-fa) A symbol of wisdom, learning from the past for the future. San – to return (retrace one’s steps, return to their roots) ko – to go fa – to take, to seize

Leon began to play African drum rhythms in 1967 and studied for ten years with Nigerian master drummer Babatunde Olatunji at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Leon has had theatrical training and appeared regularly on the PBS daily television show Zoom. He is an accomplished musician and performs regularly in numerous musical genres including jazz, reggae, and rock. Leon has appeared on the works of many recording artists and has self-produced four CDs and cassette tapes of djembe rhythms and songs.

In 1977 Leon studied under the directorship of Senegalese master drummer Ibrahim Camara (former drummer for the National Ballet of Senegal) while a member of the Bokan-Deye Dance Company.

Leon studied and performed from 1979 to 1981 in Surinam, South America and Trinidad Tobago, and the West Indies. He continued his studies during 1982 in Senegal and Gambia. In 1987 and 1992 he traveled to Japan, where he taught and performed West African Drumming and Dancing. While in Japan he visited Sado Island, home of Kodo, the internationally acclaimed percussion group, in a cultural exchange program. He traveled to South Africa in 1991-1992 where he performed with returning exiles Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya, and Hugh Masekela. From 1993 until 1997, Leon toured the world with Ben Harper. He was also in Germany, Italy, and Israel producing, recording, and conducting clinics on his own.

Leon has a great deal of experience teaching African drum rhythms. While in Boston he taught at community centers, conducted school tours with the Art of Black Dance and Music, and conducted workshops at Berklee College of Music. He became musical director at Paige Academy, a private school in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Leon continued teaching after moving to Los Angeles in 1986. He conducted weekly classes at UCLA, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Theater, Parks and Recreation, and the Los Angeles High School for the Arts on the campus of Cal State (Los Angeles).

Mobley is the founder and artistic and musical director of Da Lion and Djimbe West African Drummers and Dancers. He founded these two groups in order to help preserve African cultures, and present authentic traditional West African-American dance and music. Through these two groups, Leon continues his mission of educating others about the West African people, their customs, history, and cultural arts as well as their influence and ties with people in the USA.