Mahiri-Fadjimba Keita
manyonyo1@yahoo.com

POB: Trenton, NJ
DOB: 8/23/72
Role: Founder, Artistic Director, and Lead Djembe Soloist

Mahiri-Fadjimba Keita has been drumming for over 2 decades.  He was a lead drummer at the age of 8 in Trenton, NJ and participated in his first international tour at 14, performing with the Maimouna Keita School of West African Dance Children’s and Adult Company (NY) at the Sorano Theater in Dakar, Senegal.  Mahiri continues to commit his life to studying Mandingue drumming extensively with master musicians and historians of Mandingue and other West African traditions, including Mamady Keita (Guinea), Famoudou Konate (Guinea), Fadouba Oulare (Guinea), and Djimo Kouyate (deceased-Senegal).  He has toured internationally and nationally as a lead drummer with several professional performing companies, including Mamady Keita’s production tour “Sewakan”, Memory of African Culture Performing Company and Wo’se African Dance Theatre.  As a graduate of Tam Tam Mandingue (TTM), a school of percussion founded by Mamady Keita, he is the first appointed instructor in the US.

Diallo Sumbry
daheart@gmail.com

POB:  Trenton, NJ
DOB:  11/04/75
Role: Managing director & dunun (sangban)

Diallo currently resides in Washington, DC with his wife and two beautiful children. He received his B.A. in English and M.A. in Public Administration from the University if the District of Columbia where he is currently employed full time in the Trio programs and an adjunct faculty member.  He began performing at a very young age with the Maimouna Keita School of West African Dance Children’s Company and is quite comfortable in front of crowds as evidenced by his performance. Diallo has been studying traditional West African drumming since the age of 5.  He is founder of The Adinkra Group, an edutainment company based in Washington, DC and a rising public speaker.

Menes Yahudah
urbanfola@hotmail.com

POB: Baltimore, MD
DOB: 6/26/76
Role: Tech & rehearsal director & lead Djembe soloist

Menes has been drumming since the age of 2 and has always been interested and committed to drumming. Menes is a former lead soloist for Baltimore’s Sankofa Dance Theatre and is currently the Director of Urban Foli and an instructor with Tam Tam Mandingue, USA in Baltimore.  Menes has performed nationally and internationally in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.  He has spent the greater part of his adult life learning Djembe music and is fluent in other musical languages as well.  He currently teaches drum classes in Baltimore, Philadelphia and continues to travel nationally and internationally performing and studying traditional arts.

Malari Moore

POB:  Washington, DC
DOB:  11/10/76
Role:  Lead Djembe soloist

Malari Moore has been drumming since he was very young. He began studying with and has been performing with Kankouran West African Dance Company for his whole life.  After moving to New York for several years, Malari’s spirit called him home to DC.  Since returning, he has established himself as one of the most sought-after djembe and dunun players in the metropolitan area.  His passion for drumming is clear every time he straps on his Djembe whether a drum or dance class or performance.  Malari is a professional performer and is extremely skilled at engaging audiences and helping them find their smiles.

Kofi Dankwa Akoto
kenkeni@hotmail.com

POB:  Trenton, NJ
DOB:  7/14/78
Role:  Dunun (Kenkeni)

Kofi is a product of NationHouse Positive Action Center/Sankofa Fie and currently a 5^th grade teacher at Howard University Middle School.  He attended Howard University and received his B.A. in History and M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction.  Kofi began dancing and drumming at age 5.  He is co-chair and head of public relations for Dono, Inc, a Washington, DC-based community drum and dance company.  He is also a member of Black Notes.  Kofi has been reared in the performing arts and is considered a “jack of all trades”.  His commitment to his community and learning is evident in his performance, conversation and persona.

Nkenge Cunningham
luvdance24368@aol.com

POB: Trenton, NJ
DOB: 7/25/78
Role: Dancer, singer, accessory instruments

Nkenge started dancing before she could walk as an infant tied to her mother’s back during dance classes. She continues the teaching tradition of her family through her animated and unconventionally effective instruction of students of all ages. Her performances and teaching style reflect her enthusiasm and commitment for the culture. She is a committed wife and mother of three beautiful daughters and one son..

Fofie Akoto
fofieakoto@yahoo.com

POB: Washington, DC
DOB: 1/22/82
Role: Lead singer, dancer, accessory instruments & costume designer

Fofie holds B.S. degrees in Biology and Exercise Physiology from Howard University.  Fofie is also currently pursuing her graduate degree in Exercise Physiology & Kinesiology from Temple University.  She is the Artistic Director, Co-Chairman and Treasurer of the Dono Drum and Dance Ensemble.  Fofie also holds weekly dance classes for the Washington, DC community every Friday and has been doing so for well over four years.  She speaks several languages and is a professional seamstress.  She is a resident seamstress for Farafina Kan members and is responsible for designing and creating several of the costumes.

Lesina Martin
hermajesty33@hotmail.com

POB:  Detroit, MI
DOB: 3/3/82
Role: Lead singer, dancer, accessory instruments & costume manager

Lesina holds a B.A. in African Studies from Howard University.  She has been a professional dancer/choreographer since age 11 and one of the co-founders of Nsaa Dance Ensemble - a student based African Dance Company housed at Howard University.  She has been studying traditional West African dance and songs from internationally renowned master teachers.  Lesina, simply put, loves to dance and can sang.  Lesina is currently a full time dance instructor in the Washington DC area.

Jabari Exum
huemanprophets@gmail.com

POB:  Washington, DC
DOB:  4/2/82
Role:  Dunun (Dununba)

Steeped in the dynamism and social consciousness of hip-hop’s golden age and his own family’s African-centered spiritual and cultural perspectives, Jabari Exum realized his mission of bringing forth balance and understanding to the lives of others through music and poetry at an early age.  Jabari is a drummer, rapper, producer, poet, keyboardist, percussionist and dancer.  He is also a founding member of the duo - Hueman Prophets, a Washington, DC-based hip-hop duo known for their dynamic and inspiring live performances.   Jabari is a born performer and thinker.

Amadou Kouyate
soulsrcher@hotmail.com

POB: Senegal, West Africa via Washington, DC
DOB: 7/24/82
Role: Lead Djembe soloist and Diali

Amadou is the first Diali born in the Americas.  As heir to the Kouyate legacy, Amadou’s life revolves around the oral tradition of transmitting and safeguarding the history of his clan through music and the arts.  He continues to travel around the world performing with various groups dazzling audiences with his speed, grace and power.  He is an avid and professional Kora player and is also proficient in all types of other traditional West African instruments such as Kutiro, Sabar, Djembe, Balafon, Krin and Tama.  He is a student at Howard University and teaches Djembe at several other universities in the DC area.  Amadou is an official dedicated aficionado of all music.

Bintou Kouyate
founes1@yahoo.com

POB: Senegal, West Africa via Washington, DC
DOB: 7/13/84
Role: Dancer, singer, accessory instruments

Bintou is currently a Hospitality major at Howard University.  As the daughter of Diali Djimo & Akua Kouyate, she has been performing with her family since birth and is intent on carrying out the tradition of the Kouyate clan.  She traces her roots back 150 generations as a descendent of the famed Kouyate Clan of the Mali Empire.  Just as the traditions and culture are steeped in her blood, so is dancing.  She also is a mentor and facilitator of the Ankobea adolescent rites of passage program.  Bintou is the little sister of the group and often serves the role of “mother”.

Jabar "Sky Dancer" Smith
jabar200@hotmail.com

POB: Queens, New York
DOB: 2/20/87
Role:  Bass Djembe

Jabar currently resides in Baltimore, MD.  He began drumming at the age of 6 and initiated his studies with Kehinde Donaldson and Djembefola Ladji Camara.  He is currently studying Construction Management at the Catonsville Community College in Baltimore, MD.  He has been mentored by many master drummers along his journey through the world of African music and has performed with many dance companies throughout the US. He has been an apprentice with Baba Baile McKnight, master drum maker, studying the drum and its importance to our community.  He is also a veteran member of Nu World Art Ensemble Youth Theatre Company and has facilitated drum classes for various government and community agencies.