Les Percussions de Guinee
Encyclopedia
Les Percussions de Guinée was founded in 1987 by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism of the Republic of Guinea with the meeting between seven nationals drummers and the french artist François Kokelaere. It is a government sponsored national ballet of the finest percussionists, musicians, and dancers from Guinea, West Africa
.
They present a performance inspired by traditional music
set in a modern scenic presentation. The group is naturally oriented toward the music of the Guinean highland and the coastal region known for the djembe
drum, but their influences are also drawn from the Guinea midland and the forest regions as well. In the tradition of the griots, the history of many of the ethnic groups is told through the medium of drum and dance performance. African-styled performing arts has transmitted traditional values, actual histories, and the spiritual energy of the African people for centuries.
The fifteen-member ensemble includes seven master drummer
s, chosen among the best soloists of Guinea's national companies, as well as members playing flute
, balafon
, kora
, and traditional dancers.
Between 1987 and 1995, the company realized many tours around the world. In 1995, following political problems, François Kokelaere left the artistic direction(management) of the group which was confided to the national ballets.
Since 1994, Mamoudou has managed and directed performances in the Guinean Dance Company. In 1994, they received an award from the Rochester, New York
Chamber of Commerce
for their contribution to the development and promotion of the arts. This was the catalyst for the creation of World Music Production Inc. to preserve, spread, and promote the culture of Africa around the world.
In 1998, the Department of Arts and Culture of the Republic of Guinea appointed Mamoudou as the Managing Director and Producer of Les Percussions de Guinée, and to represent the Ministry of Youth and Culture of the Republic of Guinea worldwide. In 2000, he also began managing The Djoliba National Ballet of the Republic of Guinea (formerly managed by Harry Belafonte
). In 2001, Mamoudou signed a contract with the Guinean government to manage Les Ballets Africans. In 2002, World Music Productions Inc. arranged for Les Percussions de Guinée to appear in the IMAX
film, Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey
. The first all-female Guinean percussion group, Amazones — Women Master Drummers of Guinea, was also officially created that year. In Mamoudou Conde's words, "it is very important that we teach our culture to everyone, especially the younger generation, so that the wisdom and value of our civilization is spread and honored throughout the world."
, drum
s, Dance
, and the storytelling of Africa's rich cultural legacy.
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
.
They present a performance inspired by traditional music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
set in a modern scenic presentation. The group is naturally oriented toward the music of the Guinean highland and the coastal region known for the djembe
Djembe
A djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
drum, but their influences are also drawn from the Guinea midland and the forest regions as well. In the tradition of the griots, the history of many of the ethnic groups is told through the medium of drum and dance performance. African-styled performing arts has transmitted traditional values, actual histories, and the spiritual energy of the African people for centuries.
The fifteen-member ensemble includes seven master drummer
Master drummer
In African drumming, the title of master drummer is given to a drummer who is well known by other masters for his high skill and knowledge. It is a title passed down from a master to his pupil, after he has learned all there is to know about the African drum....
s, chosen among the best soloists of Guinea's national companies, as well as members playing flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, balafon
Balafon
The balafon is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone...
, kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
, and traditional dancers.
History
In 1952, a world-renowned dance company called Les Ballets Africans was established by artist Keita Fodeba, who had a rich legacy of connecting the cultures of Africa with the cultures of the world. Now, some 45 years later, this important work has been taken up by Mamoudou Conde, the charismatic relative of Fodeba.Between 1987 and 1995, the company realized many tours around the world. In 1995, following political problems, François Kokelaere left the artistic direction(management) of the group which was confided to the national ballets.
Since 1994, Mamoudou has managed and directed performances in the Guinean Dance Company. In 1994, they received an award from the Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
for their contribution to the development and promotion of the arts. This was the catalyst for the creation of World Music Production Inc. to preserve, spread, and promote the culture of Africa around the world.
In 1998, the Department of Arts and Culture of the Republic of Guinea appointed Mamoudou as the Managing Director and Producer of Les Percussions de Guinée, and to represent the Ministry of Youth and Culture of the Republic of Guinea worldwide. In 2000, he also began managing The Djoliba National Ballet of the Republic of Guinea (formerly managed by Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
). In 2001, Mamoudou signed a contract with the Guinean government to manage Les Ballets Africans. In 2002, World Music Productions Inc. arranged for Les Percussions de Guinée to appear in the IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
film, Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey
Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey
Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey is a 2002 short documentary film inspired by the Theatrical Production Stomp. The film begins with the members of "Stomp" pounding out a beat from the windows and fire escapes from several floors of a rundown NYC apartment building and proceeds with brief segments, cut...
. The first all-female Guinean percussion group, Amazones — Women Master Drummers of Guinea, was also officially created that year. In Mamoudou Conde's words, "it is very important that we teach our culture to everyone, especially the younger generation, so that the wisdom and value of our civilization is spread and honored throughout the world."
Mission
The mission of Les Percussions de Guinée is to educate the people of the world about Guinean traditional values through musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, Dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, and the storytelling of Africa's rich cultural legacy.