2026
Fakoly Drum & Dance Conference
June 12th - 14th
University of Minnesota
Barbara Barker Center For Dance
500 21st Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN
Hosted by Fode Seydou Bangoura Fakoly is an authentic, culturally immersive experience into the world of traditional West African drum and dance. The workshop offers hand drumming and dance classes for the community at any level and any age beginner through advanced. Instruction is provided by professional master drummers and dancers from Guinea, Mali and Nigeria who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge of traditional percussion and movement.
This Cultural Districts Art Fund program activity is funded by the Arts & Cultural Affairs Department in the City of Minneapolis
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Pre-Registration Discount through May 15th
10 Class Package - $150
8 Class Package - $128
4 Class Package - $68
Drummers Package 9 classes- $135
Single Drum/Dance Class - $18
Drum Rental - $5/class
Class Packages & Discounts end May 15th, All classes $20 each after May 15th
Saturday Evening Performance Tickets
Adults - $20 in advance / $25 at the door
Children 15 & under - $10 advance / $15 at the door
Children 5 & under - Free
Class Schedule
Dance Classes
Drum Classes
Workshop Location
Friday June 12th
4:30-6pm - Korma (Afro beat)
6-7:30pm - Naby (Guinea)
7:30-9pm - Mouminatou (Guinea)
Friday June 12th
6-7:15pm - Fara Bangoura
7:30-8:45pm - Fode Bangoura
University of Minnesota
Barbara Barker Center For Dance
500 21st Ave. S, Minneapolis
Saturday June 13th
10:30-12pm - Mamady (Guinea)
12-1:30pm - Djeneba (Mali)
1:45-3pm - Baba (Doun Doun Dance)
3-4:30pm - Mouminatou(Guinea)
Saturday June 13th
10:30-11:45am - Mandjou Mara
12-1:15pm - Fode Bangoura
1:45-3pm - Baba (Doun Doun Dance)
3-4:15pm - Bangaly Bangoura
Performance Location
University of Minnesota
Rarig Center
330 21st Ave. S, Minneapolis
Sunday June 14th
10:30-12pm - Sana (Guinea)
12-1:30pm - Naby (Guinea)
1:30-3pm - Djeneba (Mali)
3-4:30pm - Mamady (Guinea)
Sunday June 14th
10:30-11:45am - Mandjou Mara
12-1:15pm - Seny (traditional doun)
1:30-2:45pm - Bangaly Bangoura
Fakoly Artists
Fode Bangoura
Host of Fakoly
Director and Lead Drummer of Duniya Fode hails from Guinea, West Africa and has been recognized internationally for his work as the lead drummer with the acclaimed ensembles “Les Merveilles de Guinée” and the national ballet of Guinea, “Les Ballets Africains”. A protege of the late, Mohamed Kemoko Sano, Fodé is now one of the most respected and sought after drummers of his generation and is currently based in the Twin Cities. Highlights of his career include opening for Damian Marley at The Apollo Theater, featured spot on MTV for Black History Month and recording with Trey Anastasio of Phish.
Bangaly Bangoura
Hailing from Matam—Conakry’s renowned artists’ quarter—Bangaly Bangoura was raised in a family of passionate and ambitious musicians. He began his musical journey in 1998 and, by 2000, joined the Boka Junior company, where he trained in djembe and dundun under the esteemed master percussionist Boka. In 2003, he was selected to join the prestigious Les Ballets Africains, where he rose to become a lead djembe soloist.
In 2014, Bangaly founded his own company, Bangaly Jazz Percussions, a dynamic collective that blends percussion, krin, balafon, and traditional dance. At the same time, he became a percussionist for Koundouwaka, a celebrated Guinean artist.
Since relocating to France in 2018, Bangaly has become a highly sought-after performer and instructor across France and Europe, sharing his distinctive sound and style through workshops and masterclasses open to all levels. He regularly collaborates with leading figures in Guinean dance throughout Europe and currently performs as a percussionist in The Lion King and Jungle Festival at Disneyland Paris.
This marks Bangaly’s first appearance at Fakoly and his U.S. debut—an exciting opportunity not to be missed.
Fara Bangoura
Fara Bangoura has been drumming and performing since the age of five under the guidance and tutelage of his father, Fode Bangoura. Proficient on the djembe, doun doun, and krin, Fara represents the up-and-coming generation dedicated to carrying forward the sacred cultural rhythms of Guinea. With a deep respect for tradition and a strong presence as both a performer and teacher, Fara shares his knowledge and passion for West African percussion with diverse audiences. You can find him teaching and performing at conferences throughout the United States, as well as leading drum classes in Minneapolis.
Baba Bangoura
From Guinea West Africa Baba was the director of Sourakhata a dance company based in Conakry that has received many acknowledgements and rewards for their captivating high energy performances. He also performed with the widely known show "AFRICA AFRICA“ which has been staged both in London and Germany . Currently based in Iceland Baba teaches weekly dance classes and is loved by his students for his signature teaching style. He has also held workshops in Sweden, Poland and Finnland. This is Baba's 4th year teaching and performing at Fakoly.
Sana Bangoura
Sana left Guinea and joined his brother Fode in Minneapolis in 2015 after serving as Assistant Director and Principal Dancer under Les Ballet Africains dancer, Sorel Conte, in his Conakry-based group, Wassasso. Sana teaches a weekly community dance class in Minneapolis for over 10 years and is a featured teaching artist and choreographer for Duniya's Fakoly conference. Sana is a 2024 McKnight Fellowship recipient.
Naby Bangoura
Naby Bangoura is a native of Guinea, West Africa. He has danced since birth and performed with a number of groups, including internationally acclaimed “Les Merveilles de Guinea”. Since moving to California, Naby has rapidly become one of the most sought after teachers on the west coast. His authentic presence and dynamic teaching style convey the spirit of his culture with skill, inspiration, and joy!
Mouminatou Camara
Hailing from From Guinea West Africa Mouminatou Camara was principal dancer of the world-renowned dance company, Les Ballet Africains, for a decade. She also performed with Les Ballet Djoliba and the Army Ballet, and has performed and taught workshops extensively in the USA, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Martinique, and the West African countries of Senegal, Mali, and the Ivory Coast. Affectionately called “Moumi,” she says she's been dancing since she was in her mother's womb. Currently based in New York Mouminatou founded Seewe African Dance Company in September 2005 she brings first-hand knowledge of the history of each dance, and shares her knowledge with clarity and passion with her students.
Seny Daffe
Born in Conakry, Guinea. Seny began studying dance and drum at the age of ten. He is a versatile musician and plays the djembe, krin, bolon, gongoma, sangban, balafon, and doundouns. He is also a very talented singer and comedian, and is widely known and acclaimed to this day in Conakry as a big star!
Since coming to the United States in 2006, he has traveled the Eastern coast from Florida to Vermont working with several companies and well known artists. He is now a member of Jeh Kulu. Seny plays regularly for Jeh Kulu dance and drum classes, and assists in musical direction and choreography. He is a multi-talented and dynamic performer who is gaining a reputation in the U.S. for his electrifying doundoun playing and rich and powerful voice.
Mandjou Mara
Mandjou Mara began his professional drumming career when drum and dance group Oiseau Blanc, recruited him when he was just five years old as a djembe player. It was with this group that he honed his djembe skills and learned other aspects of Guinean music, dance, song, and staging. The djembe soloist of Oiseau Blanc recongnized Mandjou’s talent and introduced him to the prestigious Les Percussions de Guinee who took him on as one of their players. Momordiba Camara of the world renownd Les Ballets Africains was the next to recruit Mandjou as a djembe soloist and assistant director for his group Tayeli of Kaporo in 2000. Mandjou created his performance ensemble Limanya de la Guinee in 2007.
Djeneba Sako
Born in Bamako, Mali, Djeneba Sako began her journey with dance and music at the young age of 5. At 11 She started dancing professionally with the Bienal District Troupe. She danced with them for eight years, during which time they won the National Biannual Dance Competition four times in a row. From there she went to the District of Bamako troupe, representing the city of Bamako, where she danced for eight years. With this group she traveled to Paris for the Paris International Dance Festival, which featured the best of ethnic dance from all over the world. She then joined the renowned traditional dance group Troupe Komi Djosse, after which she joined the Troupe Kantis featuring renowned djembefola Mamadou Kante.
In July 2002 arrived in the USA. She is now one of only three Malian dance teachers here in the US, of which she is the only woman.
Mamady Sano
Mamady Sano is a world renowned dancer/choreographer and musician. He started dancing and drumming at a young age with his father Mohamed Kemoko Sano the director of Ballet Djoliba , director and choreographer of Ballet Africains and founder of Merveilles de Guinee. Mamady travelled with Merveilles de Guinee to Mali, Ivory Coast and all over Guinee before he moved to America in 1997. Since he moved there he did workshops all over North and South America and also travelled to Europe and Asia for workshops. He was a residence teacher in Long Island University, Alvin Ailey and Djoniba dance and drum School in New York City. Mamady is an amazing dance teacher known for his high energy classes and intricate dance steps . He is one of the most popular and sought after west african dance teachers in the world. Since 2022 Mamady is the artistic director of Ballet Merveilles de Guinee and is based in Iceland and Guinea. Mamady still travels around the world for workshops.
Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer
Hailing from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, Korma brings a rich cultural heritage to her work. Founder and CEO of Afro-Cont-Igbo a company that seamlessly blends traditional and modern West African dance moves, offering invigorating and joyful Afrobeats dance classes and performances throughout the Twin Cities.
Ousmane Camara
Master balafonist from Guinea
