Biography

Angelo Moustapha
His story begins with this astonishing marriage between his first name and last name. The blend is unique yet musical and harmonious.

Born in 1993 in Nikki, Benin.

He is a drummer, percussionist, composer, and arranger. Angelo is music. He is it, and he will be. It’s in him. It is him.

He held his drumsticks before his pen.
His love affair with music began in his church at just 4 years old. Too small at the time to reach the taut drumheads, he climbed onto a chair and made the sounds dance. He gave his first concert at 7 years old with the choir “La Voix d’Horeb de Savalou.”

Angelo Moustapha is a sound, a breath, a tone.
He tears through the night with his own rhythms, inspired by tradition, which he carves like lace. His genius and devotion to music allowed him to grow quickly with percussion rhythms. He soon found himself directing the orchestra “Les Pionniers de Savalou.”

His talent achieved continental recognition in 2017
when he became Africa’s best drummer at the Festival des Meilleurs Instrumentistes d’Afrique.

Angelo earned his Professional Diploma of Potential, Competence, and Intrinsic Capacity in 2017
at the École Supérieure des Métiers d’Art et de la Culture (ESMAC HWENDO Benin).

Troubadour of the drums, Angelo Moustapha embodies the full plurality of percussion rhythms. Defining himself as a “researcher and explorer,” through numerous studies and masterclasses, the Beninese drummer dove into a world not widespread in his country: Jazz. Is it because it originates from his continent that he is so attached to this musical style?

Still in 2017, before even entering the best African drummer competition,
he met Belgian artist Muriel Verhoeven (Mu) in Benin. She is a director, author, composer, actress… The professional connection was mutual, and she brought him to Europe for various projects (albums, show creations…).

In 2019, he met Belgian jazz guitarist Philip Catherine in Benin.
The latter fell in love with his percussive dimension. Since then, Angelo Moustapha has accompanied him on various projects across European stages.

Angelo Moustapha also accompanies his compatriot and mentor, the great guitarist Lionel Loueke.

In addition to his personal projects
(SOLO, IBIYEWA with Toine Thys, Joël Rabesolo, and Jeremy Debuysschere; MACONDO TRIO with Sylvain Debaisieux and Federico Stocchi…), Angelo also plays in the Lara Rosseel Quartet.

Angelo Moustapha composes and contributes to the creation of several artists’ projects in various fields,
notably theatrical projects like “White Box” by set designer Sabine Theunissen, “Mimi’s Shebeen” by choreographer Alesandra Seutin, and “ARO ILE” by choreographer Awoulath Alougbin.

Angelo is also involved in the project “Arts, Archives, and Performances”
— Animated Images, Controversial Memories — a project by Anna Seiderer, lecturer, and Browyn Lace, bringing together art professionals and researchers.

Angelo Moustapha performs on international stages around the world.
Angelo Moustapha is that musical breath that always carries him further—and us with him, inevitably, always at the right rhythm.