Salif and Mondjou Kone January 18-24, 2009
Malian Griots Mondjou and Salif Kone
Guest artists this year’s Dance Africa Performances
Thursday, Jan 22-24, 8pm, Dougherty Dance Theatre in Gerlinger
Annex
We are fortunate to have a huge following and usually sell out
as soon as the doors open and, unfortunately, we turn hundreds away
every year. [So be in line early!]
Mondjou and Salif Koné were born into the well-known Koné Griot family of Mali and Burkina Faso. The Griots of West Africa are world renown for their unique ability to record events carefully and accurately, and are a highly respected caste of historians, musicians and healers. One cannot learn to become a Griot; rather one is born into it.
As a young girl Mondjou Koné performed with her Griot father’s band singing, dancing and playing the Djembe, Bala, Dundun, Kora and Tama. Mondjou also performed with the National Ballet of Burkina Faso, and toured Europe as the lead singer with her brother’s group Surutukunu. She first came to the United States to help translate a documentary about the last 20 years of her family’s musical tradition and history. For the past nine years Mondjou has taught and performed throughout the US as a much sought after and popular educator. She received the Calabash Award for her excellence in ethnic arts in Santa Cruz, CA in 2003.
Salif Koné is a djeli (griot) who began studying traditional music when he was two years old. When he was eight years old he joined the national group of young musicians in Burkina Faso, Maison des Jeunes du Burkina, traveling all over Africa. At 14, he became the youngest musician ever to join the National Ballet of Burkina Faso. He traveled throughout Europe and Africa as a percussion soloist with the National Ballet. Salif visited the United States in 2000 to share his culture and returned in 2002 to live in Santa Cruz, California. He has performed all over the United States and taught workshops in universities throughout the country. Currently, he resides in Santa Cruz with his wife, teaching classes, performing traditional music, and working on his own album.