Facinet Bangoura

Facinet, a professional Balafonist taught by his mother, has played since 5 years of age. He played, toured and released recordings for 10 years with Wofa, Guinea's concert of percussionists. He has played with several other groups and has travelled to the United state, France and Europe. He is a concert by himself.

Facinet visited Arizona in 2005 together with Youssouf Koumbassa and Fode Bangoura

Fode Bangoura

Fode is a professional drummer (djembe-fola) and teacher from Guinea, West Africa. He has played music since he was a small boy studying with the greatest teachers and performers in West Africa. In 1993 he joined one of the internationally known dance companies from his country "Les Merveilles de Guinee" under the leadership of Kemoko Sano. This dance company 

provided Fode with the opportunities allowing him to travel throughout West Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States. Fode moved to the United States with his company "Les Merveilles de Guinee" in 1998 and currently lives in New York City, where he teaches at several prestigious dance centers including Alvin Ailey Dance Center among others. He has performed at Disney World in Florida, and was featured on MTV during a program about the role of music in black history. He has also performed with the legendary jazz musician Roswell Rudd on his Mali Cool project.In addition to performing with numerous dance companies, attending workshops and dance conferences, Fode teaches sangban, dundun, and djembe classes to kids and adults alike.

Fode visited Arizona in 2005 together with Youssouf Koumbassa and Facinet Bangoura

Djeneba Sako

Djeneba Sako is a master dance teacher and choreoagrapher from Mali. She is a highly sought-after teacher for West African dance festivals around the country, and her home base is in Boulder, Colo.  Djeneba has been a guest teacher in Arizona at several times with Abdoul Doumbia and Moussa Traore.

Mamadouba “Mohammed” Camara

Mohamed is a drummer, balafonist, percussionist, performer, dancer, teacher and arranger of traditional music from Guinea, West Africa.

In 1989, he was selected to be a member of Percussions de Guinea, the prestigious national drum troupe composed of the seven best percussionists in Guinea. During his six years with Percussions de Guinea, he preformed extensively, in two world tours, and he also recorded two albums.

Mohamed continues to teach master drum & dance classes, and he delivers dynamic, explosive performances dedicated to the expression of the African art.