Walid Abdou is on the cutting edge of contemporary lyre playing. Originally a drummer and percussionist with many groups such as Taksir Sharqi, Walid is a dedicated student and purveyor of folklore. His Nubian heritage is the source of much of his musical inspiration; with Otaak Band he extends the boundaries of those ancient lyre melodies, inventing new techniques and exploring the possibilities of the tambur. His collection of lyres includes both traditionally made instruments and contemporary ones that he has designed himself.