Biography of Nansady Keita Nansady Keïta was born in
the village of Sangbaralla, close to the town of Kouroussa, in the Hamana region of
north-east Guinea. He started drumming very young on a tin can,
and at the age of 8 received his first djembé.
Soon he began studying with djembé-master Djoumeh Camara, later joining
his group and travelling locally to perform at traditional parties and
festivals. After Djoumeh’s death Nansady
took his own group to the Malinké towns of Guékédou and Macenta (near the
Liberian border) to work. It was during
this time (around 1997) that the world-renowned djembé-master, and Nansady’s
uncle, Famoudou Konaté sent a messenger to ask Nansady to return to the village
as Famoudou wanted him to go to Guinea's capital, Conakry, with him to teach
non-African students Malinké rhythms.
This was the start of an ongoing arrangement between Famoudou and
Nansady where Nansady taught at Famoudou's annual percussion workshops. In 2007 Nansady started his own annual Guinea workshops. Each year Nansady performs for the international students at Famoudou’s winter percussion
workshop in Conakry, Guinea. Famoudou Konaté says about Nansady, "The workshops and performances that Nansady Keita offers magnificently illustrate the one-of-a-kind musical tradition of the Malinké in Guinea. Together with the fine combination of traditional ability and professional experience he is an ideal and suitable representative for the culture of our people." In 1999 Nansady began the Conakry based ensemble ‘Les Petits
de Hamana’, consisting of Malinké djembé-folas (Nansady Keïta, Sekouba Keita, Solo Keïta, Sebé
Kourouma, Sekou Kondé and Sayon Camara) from villages in north-east Guinea who met through Famoudou
Konaté. The group performed at events
throughout the city. Over the passing years
the group evolved as some members moved overseas (Sekouba and Solo to Japan,
and Sebé to Germany) and newcomers replaced them, and Nansady decided to change
the name to ‘Fankabah’ meaning ‘great power’ in Malinké. 'Fankabah' recorded a CD in 2007, a project initiated and led by Nansady. Nansady founded a new group in Guinea, 'Hamana Kalu' (CDs released May 2008 and 2010). In
mid-2002 Nansady received his first international exposure as second soloist of
Famoudou’s ensemble ‘Hamana Föli Kan’ during their European
concert tour. At the end of 2002 Nansady
was invited to the USA by Lilian Friedberg of CDP
(The Chicago Djembé Project) for workshops and performances. Again in 2004 Nansady travelled with Famoudou
on his European concert tour, with ensemble ‘Hamana Föli Kan’, and later that year on
the ensemble’s tour of Japan. In 2006 Gary Newland of Music Worldwide
Inter-cultural Music Consultancy invited Nansady to the UK, and since then Nansady
has been based in the UK but returns to Guinea each winter. Since his arrival in the UK Nansady has taught throughout the country, and during the summer months is a regular teacher and performer at many music festivals including WOMAD (in 2007 running workshops alongside the talented Senegalese Sabar drummer Modou Diouf), Drum Camp, The Tribe of Doris Intercultural Summer School and The African Drum Village Festival in Scotland. He has been involved with a diverse range of projects such as: the recording of the soundtrack to the Warner Bros original motion picture soundtrack for 'Blood Diamond'; Remembering Slavery 2007, a three month project culminating in the 'Freedom' performance at Dance City Newcastle-upon-Tyne; he was the subject of a community documentary film projects on BME (black and minority ethnic) individuals in the north-east; to School workshops in the Shetland Isles in the summer of 2008. In October and November 2008 Nansady did a 3 week concert and workshop tour of Japan, and was invited back for a one month tour in September 2009. Nansady formed his own all-Guinean performance ensemble in 2009, Nansady Keita's Ensemble, and in 2010 founded group Funkama. He is the musical director and lead soloist of both groups. He also has other groups based in the UK that he performs with.