Bolokada Conde is a master among masters and one of the richest treasures of Malinke music and folklore on earth.
As one of Guinea’s most premier and prolific Malinke Djembefolas, Conde has taught the spellbinding Malinke music and folklore across the world.
Born and raised in the villages of Morowaya, Guinea, Conde has performed for thousands of people and at the highest level.
A spellbinding Grandmaster Djembefola, Conde takes pride in sharing the Malinke rhythms, songs, and culture with sheer passion, patience, and remarkable zeal.
Drum godfather Mamady Keita calls Bolokada
“A brilliant and entertaining performer, a patient and precise teacher, and one of the few masters of his instrument. Few are able to captivate his audience as he does, and even fewer are able to clearly and concisely teach this music.”
Bolokada’s Roots
Conde started out as a young musical prodigy who became a sensation in the Sankaran region of Guinea, West Africa. As a master folklorist, he became the premier djembe player in all the major village celebrations in the region for many years.
Conde later joined the world famous Les Percussion du Guinee to replace the legendary Momoudy Keita as their lead drummer. He traveled and performed in major performance venues all over the world since 1996 and was featured in the IMAX movie PULSE: a Stomp Odyssey. Conde’s mission is to share the epic rhythms, stories, and culture of the Malinke people and nurture your musical life journey.
Drum godfather Mamady Keita calls Bolokada “A brilliant and entertaining performer, a patient and precise teacher, and one of the few masters of his instrument. Few others are able to captivate his audience as he does, and even fewer are able to clearly and concisely teach this music.”
Since 2004, Conde has been performing and teaching in the United States. He is the musical director and lead soloist of Ballet Waraba in North Carolina, Ballet Wassa-Wassa in Santa Cruz, California and Les Percussion Malinke in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has conducted percussion workshop all over the US, Europe, Asia, and Guinea, and produced CD and DVD masterpieces. Residing in the U.S., Conde was awarded as artist of extraordinary ability by the U.S. government in 2007.