Aziz Faye was raised in the village of Medina, the nguewel (griot) suburb of Dakar, Senegal. Nguewels are oral historians, musicians, dancers, singers and storytellers. Faye is the son of Sabar (drumming) master Sing Sing Faye and protoge of percussion virtuoso Doudou N’Daye Rose. He has been playing the sabar, djembe and djun-djun drums since the age of six. Faye has performed with Le Ballet du Senegal, toured with such artists as Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal, and recorded with Peter Gabriel and Ismael Lo. In Los Angeles, he founded the dance and drum ensemble Khaley Nguewel (Young Griots).