Mamady Keïta & Sewa Kan - Wassolon

(1989) Tracks : Kassa - Djabara - Fankani - Kuku - Komodenu - Djole - Soli (lent-rapide) - Soboninkun - Dununba - Djagbe - Tiriba.

Wassolon is the region in Guinée where Mamady was born.
Read a detailed review here.
Visit Mamady Keïta's website.

Mamady Keïta - Nankama

(1992) Tracks : Dennadon-Kanin - Yankadi Makru - Mendiani - Babaninko - Sorsornet - Sunu-Diansa - Kadan-Bolo Könöndö - Vanaye - Djaa - Konkoba - Könö.

"Nankama" means "He is born for it" and was Mamady's nickname when he was young.

Mamady Keïta - Mögöbalu

(1995) Tracks : (A) Dalah - Söliwoulén - Sökö - Maraka - Kawa - Sofa - Bando Djeï - Soli des Manían - Mamady Keïta, Ini Bara /(B) Bandon Fadima - Toubala Könö - Wassolon Soli - Nantalomba - Kondèn - Mamayah - Namani - Djembé Kan.

Mögöbalu means "the Wize" or "the Masters". It was recorded in Conakry, together with Mamady's former teachers and companions.
Read a detailed review here.

Mamady Keïta - Hamanah

(1996) Tracks : Dunun Gbe - Könöwulen I - Takosaba - Donaba - Kuraba Don - Gbunkundö - Bolo Könöndo - Gberedu - Taama - Könöwulen II - Takonani - Demosoni Kelen.

The same musicians from the previous CD recorded this tribute to the dununba-rhythms, which come from Hamanah, a region in Guinée. To these rhythms, the "dance of the strong men" is danced.

Mamady Keïta & Sewa Kan - Afö

(1998) Tracks : Moribayassa - Djaa - Djagbewara - Zaouli - Sewa - Toro - Baö - Wassolonka - Kassa - Djamana.

The title means "Play!". Read a great (very detailed) review on this CD here. (For the fans : Seny Touré plays on this CD.)

Mamady Keïta - Balandugu Kan

(2000) Tracks : (A) 20 janvier 1999 - Djagbé - Nama - Kögnö föli - Soboninkun - Samakoro - Konden - Kènè föli version 1 - Sènè föli /(B) Fankani - Jeux des Fillettes - Fè - Djaa - Mendiani - Kènè föli version 2 - Lolamba - Alla Gnalen Mamady La - Tanan - Tonomadan.

This double album is recorded in Balandugu, the village where Mamady was born, with the village musicians. The title means "The Sound of Balandugu". The recordings are made during the festivities that mark the end of Ramadan. Read a detailed review here.

Mamady Keïta - Mamady Lèè

(2001) Tracks : Mamady Lèè - Sabougnouma (Soli Lent) - Söna Maniamba (Dunungbe) - Badenya - Nakouda (Kuraba Don) - Tan M'Baradourö (Démosoni Kelen) - E! Madamule (Djagbe) - Bando Djeli (Gbandon) - Lolé

This CD should have been called "Mamady and the Djeli". The track titles are in fact the titles of the song. In the track list above, I also mention the corresponding rhythm that is played.

Les Ballets Africains de Guinée

(1996) Tracks : Rhythms of Africa - African Dawn - The Sacred Forest - The Sacred Forest (cont'd) - Celebration - Final.

The National Ballets were meant to showcase music and dances from the different cultures of Guinée. A lot of percussion, but also other music and singing.

Wassa - Music and Chants from the Coastal Region of Guinée

(1995) Tracks : Doriane - Tatami Fare - Wofa - Aniwama - Borhomasi Fare - Sikiri - Wassa - Kanaworobe.

This is one of my favourite CDs, with music from the Susu people. Apart from the djembe percussion, the songs are great and there is also some krin and balafon playing on it.

Les Percussions de Guinée

(1995) Tracks : Djembe Sarhan - Macenta Kryin - Sikko Djole - Doundoumbe - Koukou Beyla - Bagatai - Kouroussa Don - Alou Kassa - Kibaro.

Apart from the great djembe tracks, there is also a krin track, and djole is played on the sikko (frame drums).

Famoudou Konaté - Malinké Rhythms and Songs

(1998) Tracks : Damba - Dibon II - Konkoba II - Kadan - Sirankuruni - Kononari - Donsokoni - Borokoni - Donaba - Siwe - Lambe - Sonfoli - Takonani.

Famoudou Konaté is one of the greatest djembe masters. This great CD shows off his art, but always in service to the beautiful traditional songs and rhythms. With the Hamana Dan Ba ensemble. Read a detailed review on this CD here.

Mohamed Bangoura - Baga Rhythms and Songs

(2001) Tracks : Abolo - Sogbane - Soumba L'Kiye - Boliyarene - Peyimein - Imamaye - Mayine Bobo - Gambia - Sankora - Omenbenye - Kiriyinbaga 1 - Sinte - Mane - Touba - Toulon - Kiriyinbaga 2 - Outara - Pabotrene.

The djembe and duns are often accompanied by krin.

Djembé : Percussions of Africa - Guinée

(1999) Tracks : Doundoumbé (Perc. de Guinée) - Borhomasi Faré (Wassa) - Bagatai (Perc. de Guinée) - Tatami Faré (Wassa) - Koukou Beyla (Perc. de Guinée) - Wassakhumbé (Wofa) - Wofa Gbé (Wofa) - Célébration (les Ballets Africains).

This is a sort of 'Best Of' that assembles tracks from the previous CDs and could also have been titled 'Percussion Heaven' :-).

Djembé 2 - Percussions

(2000) Tracks : Dununbo-Bariti-Route du Niger-Waka (Perc. de Guinée) - Matimbo (Baga Guiné) - Rythme Yanvalou (Pierre Chériza) - Djambé Karan (les Ballets Africains) - Sikonakry (Wofa) - Mahsou (Perc. de Guinée) - Takonani (Famoudou Konaté) - Avininha (Candomblé) - Ailleurs Inconnu (François Kokelaere) - Djembé Sarhan (Perc. de Guinée) - Konkoba 2 (Famoudou Konaté).

This next compilation by François Kokelaere contains some non-African percussion, but you can easily listen around it ;-)

Forè-Foté - Wonbéré

(2000) Tracks : Yole - Yankadi - Ligueba - Yuri Fare - Tiriba - Guine Fare - Sunu - Soli - Doundoumba - Sembe Fare - Soko - New Kassa/Mendiani - Sabar

Company Forè-Foté, the US based group around M. Lamine "Dibo" Camara, brings Susu and Malinke rhythms. They are joined by special guest artists on this recording, among which Prince Diabaté, who adds beautiful kora playing to the overall brilliant percussion.

Adama Dramé - Mandingo Drums

(1992) Tracks : B. Mondet - Dougouda Dya - Barra - Abounaye - Solo Sandia - Sabouyouma - Jembé - Badina - Elodia - Layana.

This is one of Adama's first recordings. The combination with a modern drum set is not really a success.

Adama Dramé & Foliba - Mandingo Drums 2

(1994) Tracks : Sann Fye - Doun Doumba & Mandiani - Donn Ouilila - Terya - Kela Bala.

This CD shows the value of a great percussion group (Foliba = 'great music') that accompanies a great solo djembefola. Ambiance!

Adama Dramé - 30 years of djembe

(1997) Tracks : Expérience - Kakilambe-Nioko-Badinaba - Dansa - Benkadi - Mahoka.

You will not believe some of the things you hear on this CD. Variations and improvisations on traditional rhythms, that last up to 15 and even 20 minutes, all solo. Awsome, though maybe only for true djembe lovers.

Adama Dramé - The Giant of Djembe

(1999) Tracks : Sababou - Tama - Douba - DIA - Francs-Francais - Lonanba - Gnagna - Chloe - Bonza.
I postponed bying this CD for a while because I thought it would contain many songs like 'Francs-Francais', but it turns out the other tracks contain great percussion after all.

Adama Dramé - Tama (Voyages)

(2001) Tracks : Fourou/Le mariage - Donwilila/Dansons - Tourbillon - Fespaco - Tama/Le voyage - Mandela - Yerelon/La dignité - Dramedjeli/Le griot Dramé - Koukan/Coup de fusil - Solo djembé.
This contains a lot of beautiful songs and a little less djembe drumming than usual.

Tahirou Djembé - Burkina Faso

(2000) Tracks : Marakadon - Fiyen - Janfa - Julaba - Yeelen - Wasulu - Foli.

Tahirou Djembé calls 3 rhythms on this recording "arrangements", and 4 others "creations" based on traditional rhythms. The result is a beautifully composed CD that I enjoy very much. The liner notes criticize western djembefolas, who "can only learn (and reproduce) the rhythms by heart, without understanding either the language or the meaning that is being conveyed".

The Djembe of Bobo - Fà Kiyen Yiriwa

(1998) Tracks : Dance of the Buffoon - The Little Snake - Denbadon (mothers' dance) - Djansa - Pran Pran Bofiyen (girls' dance) - Mandiani.
Djembe and dundun percussion from Burkina Faso. It is not bad, but it does not show much variety, and sometimes the dunduns are too overpowering.

Voices from the Heart - Rhythms from the Soul of Africa

(1999) Tracks : Ha-Madi (Sourakata Koïte - Senegal) - Doum Doum-ba (Alpha Camera - Guinée) - Beno Luleka (Joseph Nganga - Congo) - Kayo Monema (Sourakata Koïte/Salimata - Senegal) - Nkuele Mone (Joseph Nganga - Congo) - Flute from Senegal (Ballet Kodia - Senegal) - Lombalya (Seydouba Soumah - Guinée) - Diya (Africa Soli - Guinée) - Tolena Mwambe (Ballet Lokombe - Congo) - Kiese (Joseph Nganga - Congo) - Kemang Kanouté (Hawa - Senegal) - Ba Jourou (Kemang Kanouté - Senegal).

This is a really cheap CD with a nice mix of wonderful music. Apart from some percussion, it also has some great kora pieces. A real introduction into traditional African music.

Dònkili - Call to Dance - Festival Music from Mali

() Tracks : Jòrò Bè Ne Na - Tulonkè - Sunun - Dibidoye - Didadi - N'i Den T'i Bolo - Fasa/Nsonsanin - Numu - Jaba - Kaba - Sajò - Tama - Mògò Kònya - Mendiani.

Quality recordings of the music and chants played at different festivities in Mali. Though the music was performed especially for the recording, it is the most "natural" sounding african percussion CD I know. With the CD comes a substantial booklet with explanatory text (written by ethnomusicologist and djembe drummer Rainer Polak) and some great photos.