Awal Alhassan was born and raised by a drumming and dancing family in Tamale, Ghana. He has performed with the National Theatre of Ghana, and The Center for National Culture Dance Troupe for years in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, Benin, and other African countries. He has also performed with the Odaye Dance and Drum Center group in Accra, and at home leads the Zosimili after school dance program for youth. He has been teaching drumming and dancing since the age of seven, including a stint at the University of Legon, Ghana. In addition to leading Sohoyini, since his recent arrival to Seattle, he has performed with Gansango, Soyaya, Maya Soleil, Ocheami, Sarakasi, and Okropong and teaches regularly.