Mamady Keita was an international Guinean jembé master. Born in 1950 in Balandougou, he was the heir to a prestigious Mandinga lineage and the depositary of the musical traditions of his people. From an early age, he turned out to be a jambé prodigy, joining the famous National Ballet Djoliba at the age of 14, where he became a soloist and then artistic director.
A true ambassador of Guinean culture, he founded in 1991 the Tam Tam Mandingue school in Brussels, the first of a globally recognized network. Author of a rich discography and many educational works, Mamady Keïta will devote his life to passing on the musical heritage of the Mandinkes, until his death in 2021.
Introduction
Mamady Keita (born August 5, 1950 in Balandougou, Guinea) was a legendary West African jembé player. Originating from a royal lineage of the Mandingue ethnicity, he dedicated his life to preserving and passing on the musical traditions of his people. His exceptional career makes him one of the most influential ambassadors of Guinean culture in the world.
Education
At the age of five, Mamady Keita had already demonstrated an innate talent for jambé, developing her own technique of tones, beats and basses. At the age of seven he was introduced to the secrets of this instrument by the jembéfola master Karinkadjan Kondé. Bathed in the traditions of Balandugu, his native village, he learned the history and music of the Malinké people.
Musical career
Mamady Keita's career began at the age of 14 when he was selected by the Guinean Minister of Culture to join the prestigious Djoliba National Ballet. Named lead soloist in 1965, he became the artistic director in 1979, contributing to the valuation of Guinea's rich culture on the international stage.
In 1986, he joined the Koteba Ballet in Côte d'Ivoire, before moving to Belgium two years later. In 1991, he founded his Tam Tam Mandingue school in Brussels, the first of a network of percussion schools in Europe, North America and Asia.
Discography
Thro his prolific career, Mamady Keita has recorded many exciting albums, including:
- Wassolon (1989)
- Nankama (1992)
- Mögöbalu (1995)
- Afö (1998)
- Balandugu Kan (2000)
- Sila Laka (2004)
- Mandeng Djara (2007)
- Hakili (2010)
Films and Videos
Mamady Keita also marked the 7th art of her footprint, with appearances noted in:
- Africa Dance (1967) avec Harry Belafonte
- La Vie Platinee (1987) de Claude Cadiou
- Djembefola (1991) de Laurent Chevallier
- Mögöbalu (1998) de Laurent Chevallier
- Djembe Kan (2003) de Monette Marino
He has also produced numerous educational videos to convey his art, including the series "Traditional Rhythms of Mandeng" (1998) and "Guinea: The Rythmes of the Mandeng". (2004-2009).
Educational CDs and Books
Soucieux de léguer son immense savoir, Mamady Keïta a créé une vaste collection de supports éducatifs:
- 12 CDs pédagogiques "Djembe Rhythms" (2004)
- Le livre "A Life for the Djembé" (2004) coécrit avec Uschi Billmeier
- L'ebook "Nankama" (2014) regroupant 72 rythmes
- Le "Curriculum for Traditional Djembe & Dunun" (2016)
Conclusion
On June 21, 2021, the music world lost one of its greatest treasures with the disappearance of Mamady Keïta in Brussels. An accomplished artist, an outstanding teacher, he has contributed like no other to bringing the jembé and Mandingue culture to the globe. His musical and human heritage will remain an inexhaustible source of inspiration for future generations.
