A Weekend in Guinea

Bush Mango Drum & Dance is very excited to offer “A Weekend In Guinea”, October 25 – 28th, 2012. Friday – Sunday master artists from Guinea, West Africa will teach numerous classes in traditional drum and dance at our 34 Elton Street studios. Many other events, such as a special Thursday evening kick off event, a Saturday evening performance and Guinea style dinner, Sunday morning yoga class, and brunch are also scheduled. The full weekend schedule and pricing options can be found here. All classes for all levels, so don’t be shy! Drum rentals are also available!

Join us for an exciting weekend of learning, challenge, and culture in an fun atmosphere of support and friendship.        

 About the Artists…

Mamadouba Mimo Camara – Guinea, West Africa 

Bush Mango Drum & Dance will be honoring Mimo Camara with a lifetime achievement award on Saturday, October 27^th.  Mimo and his wife, Pam Lord Camara have made an enormous impact on our community through generous and continual sharing of the arts of West Africa, accompanying BMDD teachers to Guinea for intensive study, and always encouraging our work in the community. Mimo remains a loving influence in the lives of the youth fortunate enough to have had his teaching. There are many great artists in the world – Mamadouba Mimo Camara is also a great man.

Mamadouba Mimo Camara was born and raised in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea. A renowned dancer, percussionist, and choreographer with Les Ballets Africains (the national drum and dance troupe of Guinea), Mimo traveled the world for 18 years performing for heads of state, visiting dignitaries, and presidential inaugurations, as well as being featured on television, films, and documentaries. Upon emigrating from Guinea to the United States in 1995, Mimo founded Kibola Sougei, a dance troupe of Africans and Americans, who perform the drum rhythms, dances, and songs of Guinea, West Africa.

Famaro Dioubate – Guinea, West Africa

Famoro was born to a griot family in Conakry, Guinea. He is the grandson of El Hadj Djelli Sory Kouyate, a living legend of the Mandeng balafon. Famaro made a strong name for himself and moved to the United States in the late nineties. He is in high demand as a free-lance musician, playing everywhere from nightclubs to Carnegie Hall. In addition to producing and recording two of his own CDs, Famaro has also been featured on many other projects including Cheik Smith-Sherif, Sekou Camara, Mory Kante and Fula Flute.

M’Bemba Bangoura – Guinea, West Africa

M’bemba has traveled throughout the world as a performer and teacher of African drum and dance and is revered worldwide for his high level of mastery. As a native of Guinea, West Africa, M’Bemba began drumming at a very young age. By the age of 21, he was acclaimed as an accomplished drummer and was invited to play for Ballet Djoliba, the National Ensemble of Guinea, which he played in for 13 years. Since moving to the US in 1992, M’Bemba has been an integral part of many drum and dance conferences and workshops nationwide, as well as teaching and performing internationally in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. M’bemba has released 3 CDs, and two DVDs. He has taught hundreds of students, many of who are now teachers themselves. In addition, he has personally created choreography and developed repertoire for dozens of dance companies in New York City and abroad. M’Bemba is one of the foremost ambassadors for Guinean drum and dance.

Mohamed Diaby – Guinea, West Africa

Mohamed Diaby began playing the djembe at age seven, under the supervision of his elder brother Moustapha. By fifteen, Mohamed joined Africa Djole, led by Fode Yulla. Mohamed later joined Les Merveilles de Guinea as lead drummer, touring all over West Africa, including Sierra Leone. Kemoko Sano, Artistic Director of the world famous troupe Les Ballet Africains, requested Mohamed to join his troupe. In April of 1995 Mohamed arrived in America to play at New York City’s Symphony Space. Today, Mohamed travels around the world teaching and performing.

Kerfala Fana Bangoura – Guinea, West Africa

Born in Conakry, Guinea, master drummer and dancer Kerfala Bangoura began his professional career in 1990. He has performed with numerous private ballets in Guinea, including the Macaca Ballet, Kounkoré Bamba Ballet, and Ballet Fareta, where he received his attestation and diploma – a certification of artistic excellence – in both drumming and dance, enabling him to work with the national performing ensembles of Guinea. Named “Master Drummer” by the Guinean Ministry of Culture in 2008, he was a featured djembe soloist for two of Guinea’s national groups, Percussions de Guinée and Les Ballets Africains, for over 8 years. Since his arrival in the United States in the spring of 2009, Kerfala has worked extensively as a performer and educator. He has taught at the University of Oregon and the University of Rochester, as well as numerous classes, workshops, and performances at elementary, middle, and high schools in Portland, Oregon. With his performing group, Mounafanyi, he opened Portland’s African Film Festival in 2010, and has also won a grant from Portland’s Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC). Currently, Kerfala teaches at the University of Rochester, leading a percussion ensemble in the music department, as well as teaching dance classes in the Program of Dance and Movement.

Michael Markus – United States

Michael has spent over twenty years performing, teaching and studying West African drumming. Along with a BFA in percussion, he has mentored with many accomplished master drummers. Michael has co-produced and released a CD, Magbana, a series of 11 educational percussion CDs, and 3 educational DVDs. He regularly conducts workshops, master classes and performs at various Universities, public and private schools throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Michael is the co-founder and president of Wula Drum, located in New York City, and Guinea, where authentically elegant and professional sounding African drums are crafted. His belief is that music and dance transcends boundaries of race, culture, and class. By promoting unity, the power of the drum, can uplift and connect us all.