Famoro Dioubate's Back to Guinea Project

Famoro Dioubate, balafon griot extraordinaire and leader of KAKANDE has been lifting our spirits here in New York City and around the United States for the past two decades. His warmth, wisdom, and talent have inspired many of us!

After over twenty years, he is FINALLY able to return to his home country, Guinea-Conakry, for two months to visit his mother, his daughter, Fatumata, his extended family and all the griot musicians he worked with over his lifetime.

As many of us know, all musicians, especially African musicians in NY, struggle just to make their monthly expenses. Famoro hopes to continue building his music school and compound, and he wants to help his family take care of some basic needs. Let's help him make this happen! And we will give back...

For a donation of $20+ you will receive access to Famoro's Kakande: a farewell concert and benefit at Café Barbes in Brooklyn, NY from 3-7 pm on November 26, 2022. We will send you a link for viewing bits of the concert a few days later if you cannot make the concert. (We will try streaming during the concert, but we can't promise it.)

Famoro is grateful for finding such an extensive, wonderful network of support and friendship in the United States, and he wants you to be able to share some of his joy in Guinea with you. He has teamed up with his dear friend, Lisa Feder, anthropologist and author of the book, Jeliya at the Crossroads (Palgrave Press 2021).

Famoro and Lisa will film at least twenty, 3-10 minute clips of his day-to-day life in Guinea. These clips will include bits of culture, live music videos, discussions, and scenes from the city and the country, and they will be posted on www.MandingGrooves.com with a private access link.

For a donation of $5 you will receive access to 5 video clips from Guinea.

For a donation of $10 you will receive 10 video clips plus a bonus clip.

For a donation of $20 and up you will receive access to all 20+ video clips from Guinea.

And if you donate $50 and up, you will get special bonus videos that no one else can see. Behind the scenes. Ooooooh.

For donations of $200 and up, you will receive bonus clips from Guinea, and a special mention and free copy of Famoro's next album: a Duo with guitarist Djekoria Mory Kante. To hear a clip of the unmixed, raw version of their first song on the album, Kobadia, visit https://www.mandinggrooves.com/musiclibrary.

If you give $250 or more, you are entitled to a free, private concert of 90 minutes at your home with Famoro and friends after he returns from Guinea.

We appreciate your help! We thank you for your support!

In peace and love,

Lisa Feder and Famoro Dioubate