Born in 1950, master drummer Mamady Keita came from eastern Guinea, once a part of the vast Manding Empire. In pre-colonial times it also included…
Artist Profiles: Mamady Keita
Tag: jembe
Artist Profiles: Famoudou Konaté
Famoudou Konaté is an exceptional virtuoso on the jembe. Famoudou Konaté was born in 1940 in Sangbarala, in the Hamana region of Guinea – the…
Jembe Maestro from Burkina Faso
Adama Dramé : Dakan (Buda Musique CD 4790380, 2016) Master drummer Adama Dramé, from Burkina Faso, celebrates his 50-year career with Dakan. Dramé is one…
Master Drummer Reflects on His Wide-ranging International Music Journey
Nii Okai Tagoe – West to West (Arc Music EUCD 2641, 2016) “We have to maintain dignity with each other whoever we are – from…
Les Moncada Chats with conguero and djembefola drummer Michael Pluznick
Francisco Aguabella once told me, “I do not play the drum, I have lived the drum”. Remembering that phrase, it’s great when one’s daily line…