Duniya Drum & Dance

West African rhythm & dance for everyone



Fakoly Drum & Dance Conference




Workshops July 25th - 27th 2025

Performance July 26th, 7:30pm

Center For Performing Arts
3754 Pleasant 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, Haiti 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








Guest Artists:
Drummers - Fode Bangoura, Fara Bangoura, Mandjou Mara, Seny Tatchol Camara
Dancers - Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer, Naby Bangoura, Baba Bangoura,
Sana Bangoura, Mamady Sano, Djenane St. Juste



DANCE CLASSES



Friday July 25th


6pm-7:30pm

Korma - Afro Beat/Igbo


7:30pm-9pm

Sana Bangoura - Guinea


Saturday July 26th


12pm-1:30pm

Mamady Sano - Guinea


1:30pm-3pm

Djenane St. Juste - Haiti


3pm-4:30pm

Naby Bangoura - Guinea


7:30pm

Fakoly Performance


Sunday July 27th


12pm-1:30pm

Naby Bangoura - Guinea


1:30pm-3pm

Baba Bangoura - Doun Doun Dance


3pm-4:30pm

Mamady Sano - Guinea



DRUM CLASSES



Friday July 25th


7pm-8:15pm

Fode Bangoura


Saturday July 26th


12pm-1:15pm

Mandjou Mara


1:30pm-2:45pm

Fode Bangoura


3pm-4:15pm

Fara Bangoura


7:30pm

Fakoly Performance


Sunday July 27th


12pm-1:15pm Mandjou Mara


1:30pm-2:45pm

Baba Bangoura - Doun Doun Dance


3pm-4:15pm

Fara Bangoura



2025 fakoly Teaching Artists



Fode Bangoura



Master Drummer, Guinea
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.



Baba Bangoura



Master Dancer, Guinea



From Guinea West Africa Baba is amongst the best dance teachers and choreographers in his country. Baba was in charge of the dance group Sourakhata which has received acknowledgements and rewards for ambitious and excellent shows. He performed with the widely known show „AFRICA AFRICA“ which has been staged both in London and Germany . The last few years, Baba has taught african dance in Iceland and is loved by his students and co-workers. He has also held workshops in Sweden, Poland and Finnland.



Sana Bangoura



Master Dancer, Guinea



Alhassane "Sana" Bangoura comes from a family of traditional drummers and dancers from Guinea, West Africa. Inspired by his brothers, Sana began his drum and dance training in 1999 as a member of the company Wassasso based in the capital city of Guinea, Conakry. It was in this company, under the direction of current Ballet Africains dancer, Sorel Conte, that Sana, through hard work, discipline and determination, rose almost immediately to the position of Principal Dancer, and in 2001 took on the role of Assistant Director. After moving to Minnesota in 2015, Sana now does school residencies and performances with Duniya Drum and Dance, as well as teaches community classes for adults. His students, ranging in age from six to sixty say he is a gentle, patient teacher adept at catering his lessons to the abilities of his students.



Naby Bangoura



Master Dancer, Guinea



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!




Mamady Sano



Master Dancer, Guinea



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.



Djenane St. Juste



Master Dancer, Haiti




Djenane Saint Juste, a native of Haiti, is the Artistic Director of Afoutayi Haitian Dance, Music and Arts Company. She is a professional choreographer, dancer, actress and vocalist specializing in Haitian traditional dance and folklore. Djenane has also been trained in Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz and Ballroom at the Institut de Danse JAKA, Institut de Dance Vivianne Gauthier, and Artcho Dance Company in Haiti. She is the creator and instigator of the Annual Haitian Cultural Festival, and has brought exciting new themes and activities to engage participants in Haitian culture since the first Haitian Festival in 2009. Djenane has dedicated herself to the research, development and promotion of traditional Haitian dance, song and storytelling.




Mandjou Mara



Master Drummer, Guinea



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.




Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer



Master Dancer - Igbo/Afrobeat



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.



Fara Bangoura



Drummer



Fara has been drumming and performing since he was 5 years old under the tutelage of his father Fode Seydou Bangoura. He is Proficient on both djembe and doun doun Fara also plays drum set and krin.



Seny Tatchol Camara



Drummer



Born in New Haven,CT in 1998 and raised by two master dancers, Seny Tatchol Camara was immersed in West African drum and dance from infancy. As soon as he could stand on his own two feet, he ran directly to the drums. Under his parents Aly Tatchol Camara and Cheree Knight-Camara's guidance, as well as many former members of the national ballets of Guinea, Seny became a prodigy at a very early age. By age 10, Seny was the lead drummer of his father's company, Kouffin Kanecke and head liaison for all business dealings. Through his teens he traveled throughout the East Coast becoming a well respected artist, being hailed for his deep understanding in the connection between thousand year old West African traditions and modern philosophies he learned growing up in the United States. Locally Seny has taught and performed at the Neighborhood Music School, Educational Center for the Arts, and within the New Haven Public School system. At a state and private level Seny has worked with universities such as Yale, Wesleyan, UNH, and many more. Seny has also started to gain national attention, being invited to showcase his talents at camps and festivals from Maine to California.





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