The mission of tam tam mandingue is to preserve, teach and perform the traditional percussion music of the mande, specifically on the djembe a. Mamady keita grandmaster of the djembe, worlds most. It spanned the modernday countries of senegal, southern mauritania, mali, northern burkina faso, western niger, the gambia, guineabissau, guinea, the ivory coast and northern ghana. Djembe drums, brought to you by rhythm traders, is a handpicked collection of some of our favorite percussion gear. An uncommon destiny is what was predicted to mamady s mother when she asked what was to become her son.
A life for the djembetraditional rhythms of the malinke music cd included published by. Welcome to mamady keita djembefolas official facebook page. We are dedicated to preserve and transmit mandingue musical tradition as a tool to promote tolerance, understanding, equality and international peace. Mamady keita is the author of a life for the djembe 5. An uncommon destiny is what was predicted to mamadys mother when she asked what was to become her son. The mission of tam tam mandingue is to preserve, teach and perform the traditional percussion music of the mande, specifically on the djembe and dunun drums. Also in 1991, mamadys life story was put on the big screen in an awardwinning documentary film titled djembefola, the man who makes the djembe speak. Michael williams mamady keita is an undisputed master of the djembe who has dedicated his life to furthering the art of west african music, dance, and culture throughout the world. He has since gone on to become the most well known djembefola in. Mamady keita is an undisputed master of the djembe who has dedicated his life to furthering the art of west. According to mamady, balandugu was founded by his greatgreatgreatgrandfather nankababa big nankaba, or the first nankaba 1 and occupied. Lead djembe drumming and soloing djembe rhythms from. The book transcribes over 60 mandingo rhythms and includes detailed histories.
They are trumpets designed by a jazz trumpet master, but people tend to pay a premium price for one of the 8310z trumpets specially selected out of the batch by bobby shew. Baba toure on djembe, who accompany musical performances by master mamady keita. Grandmasters mamady keita djembefola and eitetsu hayashi taiko soloist. Ttm winstonsalem is a branch of the worlds first international school of west african drumming, tam tam mandingue, founded by worldrenown master drummer mamady keita. Founded by the legendary mamady keita, ttm djembe academy is the worlds leading entity in teaching traditional djembe and dunun rhythms, with several diverse programs and a comprehensive learning system for any rhythm enthusiast to follow. Great for any djembe player wanting to learn traditional west african rhythms. Traditional rhythms of the malinke 5th english edition. A life for the djembe traditional rhythms of the malinke music cd included.
Here you can order some new mamady keita series djembes. Djembefola, by daniel genton introductory tutor to. Dec 17, 2010 mamady keita is an undisputed master of the djembe who has dedicated his life to furthering the art of west african music, dance, and culture throughout the world. French, see english version a book and an instruction cd at the same time, this work is a digest of djembefola mamady keitas pedagogical approach. Nankama mamady keitas second book of mandingue rhythms. Today, kuku is a popular rhythm played at all kinds of festivals, including full moon celebrations. Mamady keita is a master djembefola from guinea filmed by in this interview with brian flemming, he talks about the. Rhythms of the malinke music cd included mamady keita, uschi billmeier on. He went on several world tours, eventually becoming artistic director of. He specializes in the gobletshaped hand drum called djembe.
Mamady keita was born in 1950 in balandugu, a small village in guinea. Bill is a close personal student of mamady keita, and a certified professor in mamadys international school of the djembe, tam tam mandingue djembe academy ttmda. It adds 25 traditional rhythms and 47 of new creations to his first book, mamady keita. He has since gone on to become the most well known djembefola in africa and around the world. Sometimes called the master of masters, mamady keita was born in 1950 in. Includes all rhythms from level 1 to 3 of ttm djembe academys curriculum. Balandougou, siguiri prefecture, kankan region, guinea, august 1950 is a master drummer from the west african nation of guinea. He has become one of the few master djembe players in the world. I like to call him the michael jordan of the djembe. His mother, wishing to know the destiny of the child that she was carrying, consulted a soothsayer who announced that it would be her last son. A life for the djembetraditional rhythms of the malinke music cd included published by arun and translated by uschi billmeier.
Mamady keita ttm djembe academy, san pedro garza garcia. Mamady keita and uschi billmeier explain the ethnic meaning of approximately 60 traditional rhythms of the malinke, in addition to a selection of modern ones. Mamady keita is a grand master of the djembe and one of the worlds most wellknown and respected djembefolas. Mamady keita was born in 1950 in balandougou, a village in wassolon, guinea. Sometimes called the master of masters, mamady keita was born in 1950 in the small village of balandougou, guinea, west africa. Sep 09, 2014 mamady keita surname sometimes also spelled keita. This book is a must have rhythm resource for any serious student of the west african djembe.
Mamady keita became an initiate into the history and music of the manding at the age of seven by karinkadjan konde, an old djembefola djembe master of the village of balandugu in guinea, west africa. Jan 10, 2008 djembe master seckou keita stuffnbits. Nankama is mamady keitas second book of mandingue rhythms. Djembefola, by daniel genton introductory tutor to djembe. Mahiri keita who says mamady doesnt give private lessons miguel bernal from cuba this entry was posted in players and tagged djembes, mamady keita on january 22, 20. Mamady has been the focus of four documentary films and has recorded several albums on the fonti musicali label. Traditional rhythms of the malinke 5th english edition mamady keita on. Mamady keita is a grand master of the djembe and one of the worlds most well. Mamady keita was born in 1950 in balandugu, a small village in guinea, west africa, near the border of mali. In my other music world, i play a yamaha bobby shew 8310z trumpet. Founder president, tam tam mandingue djembe academy. At the same time they give practical advice for teaching and learning these rhythms with the help of a notation that is as ingenious as it is the fascination of the djembe is the. Lead djembe drumming and soloing djembe rhythms from west.
Even before his birth his mother was told that his name would travel beyond. In earning the ttm da professor certification, bill joins a small handful of drummers from around the world who have been commissioned by mamady keita to preserve and teach the. The essential book to study traditional rhythms as taught by master drummer mamady keita. Master djembe players such as mamady keita and famoudou konate play and teach a style of soloing based on traditional solos, a series of rhythmic variations each corresponding to a. Jul 18, 20 mamady keita was born in the small village of balandougou, guinea, in the northeastern prefecture of siguiri, near the border of mali. His initiation to the djembe started at the early age of. Master drummer mamady keita describes kuku in his book. A life for the djembe traditional rhythms of the malinke music. Traditional solos and improvisation from the book roots jam 3 contrary to popular belief, traditional drum soloing on the djembe is not simply free improvisation. A life for the djembe is the perfect companion to the guinean masters video tutors. Mamady has also written an instructional book, mamady keita. Who says mamady doesnt give private lessons miguel bernal from cuba this entry was posted in players and tagged djembes, mamady keita on january 22, 20. Midway through my drum set career, i fell in love with the power of hand drumming. His father was a master hunter and a fida tigi master of the plants, that is to say a healer.
The djembe drum is most likely about 400800 years old, and was created during the malian empire by the mande people. Mamady keita and uschi billmeier explain the ethnic meaning of approximately 60 traditional rhythms of the malinke, in addition to a selection of modern rhythms. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf. Mamady keita grandmaster of the djembe, worlds most famous djembe master mamady keita was born in 1950 in balandugu, a small village in guinea, west africa, near the border of mali. Mamady keita is a master drummer from the west african nation of guinea. His father was a master hunter and a fida tigi master of the plants, that is to say a. At the same time they give practical advice for teaching and learning these rhythms with the help of a notation that is as ingenious as it is. The fascination of the djembe is the discovery of ones own personality. First i studied conga with jorge bermudez and then i continued with the west african djembe and dunun drums under the instruction of master guinean drummers, mamady keita, famadou konate and bolokada conde, to. First i studied conga with jorge bermudez and then i continued with the west african djembe and dunun drums under the instruction of master guinean drummers, mamady keita, famadou konate and bolokada conde, to name just a few. The author of several percussion tutors, daniel genton presents, in djembefola, about 20 tradionalbased rhythmic exercises that introduc the learner to djembe playing from senegal, guinee and mali.
He is also the founder of the tam tam mandingue school of drumming. Directed by laurent chevallier, this film introduces us to mamady keita, the worlds greatest djembe player and shares his magical and emotional journey back to his birth village of balandugu, guinea after a 26year absence. The worlds first and only international school of west african drumming, founded in 1992 by the legendary guinean master drummer, mamady keita. Best djembe music 8 djembe masters you should know.