“In a fractured world, music has a way of bringing us closer,” says musician Ayman Boujlida, announcing the release of his debut album Departure on January 28, 2025. He includes, “I’m thrilled to embark on a journey of sharing so much more in 2025. Let this year be the flipside of 2024 – a year of hope, expression, and most importantly, empathy.” Boujlida’s Departure is one of the three albums he has lined up, with plans to release two more albums in the next few months, completing and sharing over 15 new tracks with his audience worldwide.
The debut album Departure by Ayman Boujlida is a conglomeration of musical influences and histories. It stands out with its unique fusion of Tunisian folk music, konnakol, and modern jazz, reflecting Boujlida’s porous lived experience. His journey took him across four continents, from Africa and Asia to Europe and America, where he learned and performed, creating a new musical narrative and sound layered with time and cultures. The album’s centerpieces, The Legacy of Carthage and Shoftek Marra, are a powerful reflection on the historical past of the Empire of Carthage and the present: Tunisia, his home and motherland.
The title track, “The Legacy of Carthage,” is inspired by events from 300 BC to today that shaped modern-day Tunisia. It is a musical translation of the ancient legacy of Carthage, later to become Ifrikya and then Tunisia, through modern music. Figures that inspired the work are Hannibal Barca (247 – 183/181 BC), Ibn Khaldun (1332 – 1406), Abul Kacem Al Chebbi (1909 – 1934).
Departure is not just an album, but a journey of growth and self-awareness. It invites listeners to explore these themes, to musically form and come to be, to host struggles within, and to stitch the world together with a humanitarian ear, a voice of nature, and a drumming heart that beats as one with the animals, wearing the skin of the other.
Boujlida means ‘father of skins,’ a historic family name that reflects the intergenerational connection to his craft and the diverse musical influences he incorporates about healing, shapeshifting, and loving the other unconditionally. The first Boujlida of Tunisia walked for decades, traversing the country with animal skin on his back. Five hundred years ago, he was one of the first zen-master healers of Tunisia. Boujlida was what people called him. Ayman, on the other hand, means ‘dexter, righteous,’ a name that embodies his skill and integrity as a musician and the lens through which he views the world and Universe and the direction for which we must head, the music we must hear.
“‘Departure’ is a deeply emotional and creative milestone – a labor of love created with incredible friends and musicians in NYC who made this journey possible. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m beyond grateful to share it with you finally.” – Ayman Boujlida
About Ayman Boujlida
Residing in New York, Ayman Boujlida is a multi-award-winning drummer and composer whose unique musical voice results from his passion for jazz, classical music, and Tunisian folk. The native-born Tunisian was exposed to North African Traditional music growing up and began touring as a local musician while pursuing a degree in Ethnomusicology. Ayman’s love for music took him to India, where he studied and played Indian music with living legends, including Dr. Ghatam Karthik. He graduated from the New School of Jazz and established a name for himself performing his music all over the world. Boujlida’s music reflects his global journey, synthesizing his cultural roots and the influences he absorbed worldwide. From Africa and Asia to Europe and America, he has learned from masters and performed, creating a new musical narrative and sound layered with time and cultures. His journey as a drummer, pianist, and global performer has led him to immerse himself in a rich spectrum of genres, from Tunisian folk, Indian rhythm, and American jazz to classical music. These various traditions have shaped his sound, enabling him to approach composition with a broader, more inclusive perspective. Whether playing Tunisian folk, classical, or jazz, Boujlida aims to express the shared human experience while honoring the specific traditions that have shaped him. His journey has allowed him to see that music is not just a series of genres but a reflection of the world’s diversity—a way to connect with others, understand, and grow.
