Mamady Keita was initiated into the history and music of the Manding at the age of 7 by Karinkadjan Konde, an elder djembefola (professional djembe player) and Master Drummer in the village Balandugu, located in Wassolon, Siguiri Province, Guinea, West Africa. 

At the age of 13, he was taken to the capital city, Conakry, to play with Ballet Djoliba, one of Guinea's two national ballets. He continued his drumming mission in Ballet Djoliba for the next 26 years as soloist and eventually artistic director, making several world tours. In 1988, Mamady relocated to Brussels, Belgium, where he founded and still directs Tam Tam Mandingue, a percussion school developed to pass on the traditional djembe/dounun music of the Manding. 

Mamady travels the world teaching and performing each year: every winter he hosts 3-week workshops in Guinea; every August he tours Japan; and every September he tours the US. 

Mamady has been the focus of 4 documentary films: The first, "Djembefola", was released in 1991; 2 have been produced by Japanese Directors; and the latest film, "Mogobalu" (the masters) was released in 1998 (not yet available in English). Mamady has recorded 7 CDs on Fonti Musicali: "Wassolon," "Nankama," "Mogobalu," "Hamanah," "Afo," "Balandugukan" and "Mamady Lee." 

Mamady has also created 3 instructional videos, for beginners, intermediates and advanced. Mamady's book/instructional CD, "Mamady Keita: A Life for the Djembe--Traditional Rhythms of the Malinke" (co-authored by Uschi Billmeier) has just been re-issued in a revised edition with new and updated information and translations. Many of these items will be available for sale at the workshops.