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Selected Members:
Yamoussa Camara (Djembe):
Yamoussa is a master dancer and drummer (Djembefola) for Guinea
who currently resides in CT. While with Les Ballets Africans, Yamoussa was the company’s youngest lead drummer.
Yamoussa originally came to the United
States in 1995, at which time he made the
CD "Master of the Forest" with Paolo Mattioli and Les Merveilles d'Afrique. Yamoussa also
plays the djembe and provides lead vocals on Les Merveilles d'Afrique's CD,
"Diya; and on Abdoulaye’s
CD, “Abdoulaye Sylla
and One World”.
Anastasia Coulate (Dancer):
Anastasia is one of Fotoba’s
newest members. She specializes in both African dancing and Caribbean
dancing. Born in St. Lucia,
West Indies, these dancing styles are native to her
and are a part of her culture. Anastasia presently resides in Bloomfield , CT where she is a registered nurse.
Mabinty Keira (Dancer):
Mabinty is a master dancer from Les Merveilles D’Afrique. She is originally from Guinea,
West Africa and presently resides in NYC.
Lansana Toure (Djembe):
Lansana is a master Djembefola
from Les Merveilles D’Afrique. He is originally from Guinea,
West Africa and presently resides in NYC. He teaches in NYC and CT.
Mangue Sylla (Doun-doun; djembe):
Mangue Sylla was born in Conakry,
West Africa. He started playing music at the age of
10. Sengbe was his first and is his favorite
instrument. He learned to play the sengbe from some
of the best teachers and performers, including Lamine
Bayo, Kanda, Lancey and Numundi. Mangue became a
professional musician soon after mastering the sengbe.
Mangue worked as a sengbe
teacher for 6 years at Jean Paul II Children's School. He joined "Les Merveilles De Guinea" in 1993 and traveled
throughout Africa. Mangue moved to the U.S. in
1998, and now lives in New York City teaching doun-doun
and djembe classes.
Abou Sylla (Balafon; doun-doun;
djembe):
Abou was born in Kindia,
a village in Guinea, West Africa. His primary instrument is the balafon (a wooden xylophone), which he started playing at
the age of 5; he in considered one of the world's best balafon
players. Abou Sylla
traveled around the world with the internationally acclaimed Les Ballets Africains, the Guinean national dance troupe, and the To Kouyate Company, a traditional music ensemble. He recieved the Artists' Fellowship in Music Composition
with the New York Foundation of Arts in 2000. He continues to perform with
the award winning group Les Merveilles d'Afrique. He also performs with several contemporary and
traditional music groups, including DeBlatt, Super Mandeng and African Blue Note Band, among others. Abou teaches workshops in traditional African music all
over the U.S.,
including at the University of Florida,
and at Wesleyan University
in Middletown, CT.
Aly Diabate (Doun-doun; sengbe; kenkeni):
Aly is a master doundoun
player from Guinea,
West Africa. He
has toured extensively with Les Ballets Africains
and Les Merveilles D’Afrique.
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