Mamoudou Conde

Manager

Full Story

Mamoudou Condé has devoted his life to the arts, driven by an early passion for culture, music, and performance. Born in Siguiri, Guinea, his love for the arts was first ignited as a child when he participated in the nationwide cultural event, "La Nuit de L'école Guinéenne," organized by President Ahmed Sékou Touré.

Condé’s connection to the arts deepened as he became aware of the work of his relative, Keita Fodeba, the founder of the internationally renowned dance company, Les Ballets Africains. Inspired by Fodeba's legacy, Condé pursued a future in the arts, focusing on visual art, music, dance, and drama. He furthered his studies in drama in Rome, Italy, where he supported himself as a carver before traveling to the United States in the mid-1980s.

In 1994, Condé founded World Music Productions, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting African culture through the arts. Using live performances, technology, film, the Internet, radio, and television, World Music Productions shares Africa's traditional and contemporary heritage of history, dance, and music with the world.

Condé’s deep commitment to the cultural legacy of Guinea earned him the endorsement of Bailo Tellivel Diallo, National Director of Culture, in 1998. He was appointed Managing Director and Producer of Guinea’s national dance and music ensembles, including Les Percussions de Guinée, Les Ballets Africains, and Ballet National Djoliba. That same year, Condé made history by creating NIMBAYA! (formerly known as Amazones Women Master Drummers), Africa's first all-women percussion group to perform on traditional instruments, which had been reserved exclusively for male players.

Under his leadership, World Music Productions has toured numerous African performance groups, including Les Ballets Africains, Les Percussions de Guinée, and NIMBAYA!, as well as other prominent African artists, across Europe, Australia, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Caribbean. Beyond major theaters and festivals, Condé has worked with tens of thousands of children across the United States and abroad, introducing them to Africa's rich cultural heritage.

Condé’s dedication to preserving and promoting African musical traditions has earned him international recognition. In 2003, the City of San Francisco honored him, and in 2004, he received the International Cultural Treasury Award from the City of Los Angeles. His work reflects a deep love and respect for Africa’s people and history, and his mission is to build cultural bridges between Africa and the rest of the world, sharing messages of peace and unity through music.

Awards and Recognition:

1994: Award from the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce for professional achievement and commitment to the arts.
November 2002: Gold medal at the 11th Festival International de Percussions de l’Ile de la Réunion (France) for Les Percussions de Guinée.
2003: Featured on CNN’s Inside Africa and received a Certificate of Honor and Proclamation from the City of San Francisco, establishing February 25th as "Guinée Day."
2004: International Cultural Treasury Award by Mayor James K. Hahn of Los Angeles.
2004: Invited by the Mayor of Los Angeles to kick off the LA 2004 Celebration alongside Ray Charles and Arthur Mitchell.
2004: Featured on PBS’ Arts Express with Les Ballets Africains.
2012: Appeared on Black Entertainment Television (BET) International in Washington, D.C.

In 2020 Conde co-founded "La Foundation Aicha" aka "The Aicha Foundation" which fosters a better way of life to the worlds human families in need of basic life essentials. Of which "La Foundation Aicha" is the managing company for Les Ballets Africains, NIMBAYA!, and GuineePercussions.

Mission Statement: "My mission is to fight for social justice and to preserve, promote, and spread Africa's rich cultural legacy through music, drums, dance, and storytelling. I believe that younger generations, whether in Africa or elsewhere, can learn from the values of discipline, courage, determination, respect, teamwork, and humanity. These are the traits that will help them succeed not only as traditional drummers or dancers but in all areas of life, while connecting Africa’s culture with the rest of the world."