Naka Biography

Naka (born Ramiro Gomes Dias) is a guitarist from Guinea-Bissau, specializing in the gumbe rhythms. Born in 1955, Naka originally followed a track career, but dropped it shortly thereafter. Legend has it that as a pre-teenager, he was dismissed from the church after asking why all of the saints were white. During the struggle for independence in Guinea, he was accused of collaborating with the Portuguese, due to his avoidance of fighting. In 1976, he left for Lisbon to study, but soon after moved to Paris, at least in part to avoid the racism. After attempting some small bands, he turned to a solo career and adapted the gumbe rhythm to his own tastes. He has since taken on a successful solo career.