Born and raised in Ghana, Alex is part of a long line of drummers in the Addy family and was trained by his father, Obo Addy. During his childhood, he participated in church performances before moving to Portland when he was 15. Since joining Homowo African Arts & Cultures and the Obo Addy Legacy Project in 1992, Alex has brought an ecstatic energy to its educational programs.

Alex currently teaches the five hand techniques of Ghanaian drumming at institutions such as Lewis and Clark College, Open Meadow Alternative Schools, and The Higher Stages Program, to name a few. He believes in people working together to create a strong communal rhythm and embracing the confidence in one’s voice in a solo.