:Mamady Keïta

Keïta was born in the small village of Balandougou, Guinea, in the northeastern prefecture of Siguiri, near the border of Mali. Keïta was a direct descendant of the king Sundiata Keita.{{Cite web|title=The Madness of the Elephant|url=https://www.sfcv.org/article/the-madness-of-the-elephant|website=San Francisco Classical Voice|language=en|access-date=24 May 2020}} By the age of five, he had developed his own technique of tone, slap, bass and learned the rhythms of his village and was playing Djembe in all of the ceremonies, celebrations and festivals. Technically, his actual initiation to the djembe started at the early age of seven, under Karinkadjan Kondé, elder master djembefola of Balandugu, who initiated him to the secrets of the djembe. Keïta was educated in the traditions of his village, learning the history and music of the Malinke people. At the age of twelve, he became a member of the first regional federal ballet of Siguiri after Balanka Sidiki, a recruiter for the group, came to Balandugu looking for performers.{{cite book|last1=Billmeier|first1=Uschi|last2=Keïta|first2=Mamady|title=A Life for the Djembé—Traditional Rhythms of the Malinké|publisher=Arun-Verlag|year=2004|edition=5th|isbn=978-3-935581-52-3|location=Kirchhasel-Uhlstädt|orig-year=1999}}

At the time, Guinea was governed by Sékou Touré, who put special emphasis on Guinean culture through live performances and a system of local, regional, and national competitions that recruited the greatest artists of the land. During the National Festival in 1964, Keïta, then aged fourteen, along with fifty other percussionists and numerous other artists, was selected by Guinea's Minister of Culture to form Le Ballet National Djoliba (The Djoliba National Ballet), which was intended to serve as a showcase for Touré's revolution in Guinea.{{cite thesis|first=Vera |last=Flaig |title=The Politics of Representation and Transmission in the Globalization of Guinea's Djembé |url=http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75801/1/vhflaig_1.pdf |accessdate=15 January 2012 |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2010 |degree=Ph.D. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428014120/http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75801/1/vhflaig_1.pdf |archivedate=28 April 2014 |url-status=live }} After nine months of training, he was one of only five percussionists retained.{{cite video|title="Djembefola" |people=Laurent Chevallier (director), Mamady Keïta (himself) |year=1991 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216717/ |accessdate=24 March 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211023704/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216717/ |archivedate=11 February 2017 }}

He was appointed lead soloist of Ballet Djoliba in 1965{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Keen |date=2021-06-24 |title=Mamady Keïta, the djembe falls silent |url=https://pan-african-music.com/en/mamady-keita-the-djembe-falls-silent/ |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=PAM - Pan African Music |language=en-US}} and, in 1979, became its artistic director. He stayed with Ballet Djoliba until 1986, when he joined Ballet Koteba in Côte d'Ivoire.{{Cite web |title=Mamady Keïta Master Drummer |url=https://us-africa.tripod.com/consulaatguinee/mamadyKeitaDrummer.html |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=us-africa.tripod.com}}

In 1988, Keïta moved to Belgium where he worked as a performer and teacher. In 1991, he opened his first school Tam Tam Mandingue percussion school in Brussels, to be followed by additional schools in Europe, North America, and Asia,{{cite web |title=Teachers |url=https://www.ttmda.com/teachers |website=TTM Djembe Academy |publisher=Tam Tam Mandingue International |accessdate=6 March 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=TTM Schools & Teachers |url=http://www.ttmusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=257&Itemid=29/ |accessdate=4 March 2012 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/65vSFsnh8?url=http://www.ttmusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=257&Itemid=29/ |archivedate=5 March 2012 |url-status=live |publisher=Tam Tam Mandingue }} each run by a school director personally certified by Keïta for his/her playing skill and teaching abilities.{{cite web |title=Tam Tam Mandingue Teacher/Director Certification Process |url=http://ttmusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259&Itemid=46/ |accessdate=1 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240526140657/https://www.webcitation.org/6FLGFtYiu?url=http://ttmusa.org/index.php%3Foption=com_content&view=article&id=259&Itemid=46/ |archivedate=26 May 2024 |publisher=Tam Tam Mandingue }}

Up until his death, Keïta worked as a performer with his group Sewa Kan and recorded a number of CDs. He also taught internationally, running international workshops in Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as an annual camp in Africa.{{cite video |title=Messengers of Tradition |medium=DVD |people=Kelly Pederson (producer) |year=2012 |publisher=Tam Tam Mandingue |url=http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DFP-0070 |accessdate=24 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416163651/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DFP-0070 |archivedate=16 April 2013 }} He published a large body of djembe teaching materials on CD and DVD, as well as an instructional book.

He resided in Monterrey, Mexico.{{Cite web |title=inauthor:"United States. Congress. House" - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22United+States.+Congress.+House%22 |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=www.google.com}} On 21 June 2021, Keïta died in Belgium after being admitted to hospital with a heart-related condition.

He performed with many other djembefola such as Bolokada Conde, Mohamed Diaby, Amara Kante, Barbara Bangoura, and many others. They all miss him very much, Bolokada Conde even created a rhythm for all passed djembefola but especially for Mamady.{{cite web |url=https://guineenews.org/bruxelles-mamady-djembe-un-monument-de-la-percussion-mondiale-sest-eteint/ |title=Bruxelles: Mamady Djembé, un monument de la percussion mondiale s'est éteint |date=21 June 2021 |last=Doré |first=Tokpanon |website=Guinéenews |access-date=21 June 2021 |lang=fr}}

• 1989: Mamady Keïta & Sewa Kan, Wassolon, Fonti Musicali{{Citation |title=Mamady Keïta & Sewa Kan - Wassolon (Percussion Malinké) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3855144-Mamady-Keïta-Sewa-Kan-Wassolon-Percussion-Malinké |language=en |access-date=2022-05-15}}
• 1992: Mamady Keïta, Nankama, Fonti Musicali, 1992
• 1995: Mamady Keïta, Mögöbalu (double CD), Fonti Musicali
• 1996: Mamady Keïta, Hamanah (with Famoudou Konaté), Fonti Musicali
• 1998: Mamady Keïta & Sewa Kan, Afö, Fonti Musicali
• 2000: Mamady Keïta, Balandugu Kan (double CD), Fonti Musicali
• 2001: Mamady Keïta, Mamady Lèè, Fonti Musicali
• 2002: Mamady Keïta, Agiatè, Fonti Musicali
• 2004: Mamady Keïta, Djembe Master (compilation of tracks from previous albums), Nocturne (rough trade)
• 2004: Mamady Keïta, Sila Laka, Fonti Musicali
• 2005: Mamady Keïta & Sewa Kan, Live @ Couleur Cafe, Fenix Music & ZigZag World
• 2007: Mamady Keïta, Mandeng Djara, Fonti Musicali
• 2010: Mamady Keïta & Sewa Kan, Hakili (DVD & CD package), ZigZag World & CristalRecords{{Cite web |title=Mamady Keïta |url=https://soundcloud.com/mamadykeita |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=SoundCloud |language=en}}

• 1967: Africa Dance (with Harry Belafonte).
• 1987: [https://web.archive.org/web/20080605023928/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/168024/La-Vie-Platinee/overview La Vie Platinee]. Directed by Claude Cadiou.
• 1991: [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216717/ Djembefola]. Directed by Laurent Chevallier.
• 1998: [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2321435/ Mögöbalu]. Directed by Laurent Chevallier.
• 2003: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120620072920/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TTM-0020 Djembe Kan]. Directed by Monette Marino. Publisher: Tam Tam Mandingue USA.
• 2005: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070227213040/http://www.ttmusa.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=8 Mamady Keïta and Sewa Kan: Live @ Couleur Café]. Publisher: Fenix Music.
• 2010: [https://archive.today/20130416045023/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=hakili Hakili] (DVD & CD package). Directed by Thierry Villeneuve. Publisher: ZigZag World & CristalRecords.
• 2012: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120620062728/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DFP-0070 Messengers of Tradition]. Publisher: Tam Tam Mandingue USA.

• 1998: [https://archive.today/20130416022026/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DFP+0040 Rythmes Traditionnels du Mandeng—Debutant]
• 1998: [https://archive.today/20130416012820/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DFP+0050 Rythmes Traditionnels du Mandeng—Moyens]
• 1998: [https://archive.today/20130416021942/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DFP+0060 Rythmes Traditionnels du Mandeng—Avances]
  Djembe and dunun instructional VHS tapes, re-released on DVD in 2011. Publisher: Djembefola Productions.
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416033158/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=FMU-0310 Guinée: Les Rythmes du Mandeng, Volume 1]. Publisher: Fonti Musicali.
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416020025/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=FMU-0320 Guinée: Les Rythmes du Mandeng, Volume 2]. Publisher: Fonti Musicali.
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416010308/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=FMU-0330 Guinée: Les Rythmes du Mandeng, Volume 3]. Publisher: Fonti Musicali.
  Djembe and dunun instructional DVDs for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
• 2009: [https://archive.today/20130416055702/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=FMU-0340 Guinée: Les Rythmes du Mandeng, Volume 4—Solos, breaks, techniques No. 1]. Publisher: Fonti Musicali.
  Djembe and dunun instructional DVD, focussed on soloing technique.

• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130415235749/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0010 Djembe Rhythms No. 1: Diansa]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416221913/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0020 Djembe Rhythms No. 2: Djabara]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416015202/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0030 Djembe Rhythms No. 3: Garangedon]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416022051/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0040 Djembe Rhythms No. 4: Kotedjuga]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416030538/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0050 Djembe Rhythms No. 5: Soli Rapide]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416030544/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0060 Djembe Rhythms No. 6: Soko]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416001239/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0070 Djembe Rhythms No. 7: Kuku]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416003721/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0080 Djembe Rhythms No. 8: Mendiani]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416004520/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0090 Djembe Rhythms No. 9: Soli des Manian]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416011233/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0100 Djembe Rhythms No. 10: Yankadi]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416002929/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0110 Djembe Rhythms No. 11: Soboninkun]
• 2004: [https://archive.today/20130416023559/http://www.ttmmarket.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RLD-0120 Djembe Rhythms No. 12: Wassolonka]
  Djembe and dunun instructional CDs. Each presents a Solo Original that illustrates typical solo phrases and style for the rhythm.
• 2016 Anta! Available in Club TTM (TTMDA.com/clubttm)

• Billmeier, Uschi; Keïta, Mamady (2004) [First published 1999 as a three-language edition (English, German, and French), {{ISBN|3-927940-61-5}}]. A Life for the Djembé—Traditional Rhythms of the Malinké (5th ed.). Kirchhasel-Uhlstädt: Arun-Verlag. {{ISBN|978-3-935581-52-3}}.
  Notation for over sixty traditional rhythms. Includes historical information about the djembe, biographical notes, and a CD with demonstrations of 21 rhythms.
• Keita, Mamady (2014). [https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/nankama/id875993347?mt=11 Nankama]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} (ebook). BookBaby.
  Notation for 25 traditional rhythms and 47 rhythms composed by Keita.
• Keïta, Mamady (2016). {{ISBN|978-9-810912-27-7}} Curriculum for traditional djembe & dunun (1st ed.) Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy.

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{{commonscat|Mamady Keita}}

• [http://ttmda.com Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy page]
• {{Discogs artist|Mamady Keïta}}
• {{imdb name|id=2697793}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Keita, Mamady}}

Category:1950 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:20th-century drummers

Category:20th-century male musicians

Category:21st-century drummers

Category:21st-century male musicians

Category:African drummers

Category:Djembe players

Category:Guinean musicians

Category:Master drummers

Category:People from Kankan Region

Category:People from Monterrey