The djembe

The Djembe Master

A few names worth looking out for

• Keita Fodeba

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b. 1921 Rep. of Guinea, Founder of Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée in 1945.

• Famoudou Konate

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b. 1940 Upper Guinea, Lead Djembe Soloist for Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée
Recordings at Amazon.com

• Ladji Camara

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b. 1923, Guinea, preformed with Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée, Babatunde Olatunji
Recordings at Amazon.com

• Mamady Keïta

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b. 1950, Guinea, lead drummer & soloist of the Djoliba Ballet, founded Tam Tam Mandingue percussion school
Recordings at Amazon.com

• Adama Dramé

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b. 1954, Burkino Faso, instructor and artistic leader of Ballet Foliba.
Recordings at Amazon.com

• Abdoulaye Diakite

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b. 1950, Senegal, lead soloist Ballet National du Senegal, founded Tambacounda West African Drum and Dance Camp and co-founded the drum and dance company CEEDO.
Recordings at Amazon.com

• Babatunde Olatunji

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b. 1927 d.2003 Nigeria, co-founded Olatunji Center for African Culture in Harlem with John Coltrane. Recorded with Carlos Santana, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder.
Recordings at Amazon.com

• Soungalo Coulibaly

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b. 1955 d. 2004 Mali, "Famoudou's hand is so clean, his sound is so pure, that I wondered if I'd ever be able to play like him."--Mamady Keïta
Recordings at Amazon.com