Help Laurent Camara Return to Guinea

M'Bemba Bangoura, with help from friends in the West African drum and dance community, are coming together - while apart - to raise funds for Laurent Camara to return to his home in Conakry, Guinea.  These funds will cover the cost of his flight, and his living expenses for as long as possible.  Laurent has lived in NYC for over 20 years and has not been back to Guinea in that same amount of time.  He would like to move back to Conakry to be with his family to live out the rest of his life.  His health complications have made it very difficult for him to teach and perform, and the pandemic has of course made it almost impossible for him to pursue any work.  We all thank you for helping to take care of this living legend.  Any amount small or large will go a very long way. 

Laurent Camara is one of Guinea's great virtuosos of the djembe.  In 1973 he joined Ballet Djoliba National, playing alongside other masterful drummers such as Mamady Keita and M'Bemba Bangoura.  In 1986 he became a lead soloist in Les Ballets Africains, touring with them until the year 2000.  In 1985 joined Percussions de Guinea and performed with them for 2 years.  Laurent has been connected with the Wula Drum Company for many years, and has worked with a dance company in Tallahassee for over 5 years, among various other teaching and performance situations.