Dolsi-naa Abubakari Lunna traces his ancestry in drumming back for many generations. His father, Lun-naa Wombei, was one of the leading drummers of his era.

Dolsi-naa Abubakari learned drumming from his father and his father’s brother, Mba Ngolba, as well as Baba Alaasani, Fuseini Namowo, and Issahaku Namowo, who became Namowo-naa, leader of all the drummers of Dagbon.