Mozel Zeke Nealy

Haitian Vodou drumming

As a young adult at San Francisco State University, Mozel Zeke Nealy began learning Haitian vodou drumming from Rene Calvin, a drummer for Haitian icon Jean-Leon Destine.  Now over 30 years later, Zeke plays for Haitian dance classes across the Bay Area, teach regular adult and children percussion classes, and is considered a master drummer by his peers.

In 2008, a contract from ACTA’s Traditional Arts Development Program allowed master Vodou drummer and singer Frisner Augustin to conduct a two week-long instructional sessions with Zeke and other Bay Area-based Haitian drummers.

Announcing the 2024 Taproot Fellows!