West African Project: Guinea Drummers

This is a project made by Kuba Pogorzelski, who invites artist of West Africa to Poland and presents their art to European audience.

The first guest of West African Project was Adama Kamissoko (MALI) – a singer and kamalen n’goni (Afrcan kind of a harph) player. Adama already visited Poland twice: in 2006 and 2010.

Next invited artist, who has stayed in Poland until now, is Mohamed Gaspard Conde (Guinea), an excellent percussion player, dancer, music director of Ballet Sourakhata group, co-leader of Tourekounda group, and also a teacher of the youth. They met with Kuba Pogorzelski in Conakry, where Mohamed used to be his drum professor.

This year, we present West African Project: Guinea Drummers – a result of cooperation with artists also coming from Guinea. All our guests are professional, top artists brought up in dancing groups and percussion bands, which function in Guinea also as schools of traditional West African music and dance.

West African Project: Guinea Drummers has 7 members, among them Kuba Pogorzelski, Mohamed Gaspard Conde and 5 more great performers from Guinea. Their programme consists of both tradtional and contemporary pieces of percussion music and illustrates the richness and mastery of drums. During their show, we also listen to balaphone melodies, songs and admire absolutely impressive Guinea dance. The remaining artists of the band are:

• Sekou Camara (dundun) – Ballet Sourakhata and Ballet Soleil d'Afrique,
• Younousa Sylla (balafon) – Ballet Communal de Matam,
• Daouda Camara (djembe) – Ballet Sourakhata and Boka Juniors,
• Mohamed Sylla (djembe) – Ballet Communal de Matam and Boka Juniors,
• Tanti Sylla (dance & vocals) – Les Ballets Africains.

The band performed during the VII International Percussion Festival “Sources and Inspirations” in February 2011 in Kraków.