DJIALY KUNDA KOUYATE TRADITIONAL WEST AFRICAN ENSEMBLE
Bio/Performance Resume

The Kouyate Twins come from a long family line of "Griots" (known as storytellers of history). The families lineage starts in Mali and expands to Senegal, West Africa where the twins were raised and learned there families history through song and dance. The duo has toured all over the globe as lead dancers with the National Ballet of Senegal and various famous African Artists such as: Yousour Ndour, Ami Koita and Baaba Maal to name a few.
The duo is promoting their new cd "Sekhou Senegal" throughout the US, parts of West Africa and most recently Paris and Germany which was a huge success. Djialy Kunda Kouyate consist of the twins and six bands members playing traditional african instruments like the Balaphone, Kora , Djembe/Sabar drum, tama (talking drum), with an added modern flare the bass, keyboard and percussion drums. Along with performing they teach beginning to advanced dance levels in West African dance from children to adults. Their flare has amazed many audiences with spectacular high-impact dance movements and traditional african melody. The group is definitely defined as an array of cultural history and superb musical talent.





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(Dance Performances)

  • Abdou Diouf, President of Senegal, Dakar Senegal 1981
  • Art-s Clips, Television Show, Dakar Senegal 1986
  • Sinemew Ballet, Dakar Senegal 1990 to 1993
  • National Ballet du Senegal, Dakar Senegal 1993 to 1999
  • Collage De la Cultures Africanes, Oakland, CA 1999 2001
  • Reggae On The River, Garberville, CA 2000
  • Cassanova, Makawao, HI 2000
  •  People Like Me World Arts West, San Francisco, CA 2001
  • CD Release Tour Baltimore, MD, California, Hawaii 2002
  • Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center 2002 & 2003
  • Bayside Grange Arcata, CA, 2003
  • "Twin Spectacular", Pittsburg, PA 2003

Teaching Experience
  • Ile Omode Charter School, Oakland, CA (Intensive Summer Program) 6/2003 to 7/2003
  • Youth In Arts (PreK 8 grades) San Rafeal, CA, 2/2003: Present
  • The Black Repertory Theater Group, Berkeley, CA (Summer Program) 06/2002 08/2002
  • Elmhurst Middle School, Oakland Unified School District, Oakland, CA, 03/2002 06/2002- Gompers Continuation School, West Contra Costa School District, Richmond, CA, 10/2001 06/2002- Ile Omode Charter School, Oakland, CA (After-School Program) 09/2001 06/2002- Rhythm & Motion Dance Studio, San Francisco, CA, 07/2001 - Present - Horizon Day School (Preschool/Elementary), Berkeley, CA 09/1999 12/1999- (Choreographies) Le Ballet Leopold Senghor, Taiwan- Sinimew Ballet, Senegal- The Sunugal Ballet, Oakland, CA- Mandinka/Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, Oakland, CA- Kankouran West African Dance Company, Washington DC- Return to Goree West African Dance Company, Baltimore, MD- Maimouna Keita School of Dance, New York, NY- Bekeley High School Afro-Haitian Dance Class, Berkeley, CA

(Tours) 1993-1999, National Ballet du Senegal Brazil, France,- Spain, Norway, Canada, Holland, Belgium, and USA-
1997 Youssou NDour in Europe
2002 Djialy Kunda Kouyate CD Release Tour Senegal, West Africa
2003 Djialy Kunda Kouyate - Paris, Switzerland and Germany;
2004- Sekhou Senegal, Daniel Sorano Theater, Senegal

Dance Workshops
  • 2003- Djembe/Sabar Dance Workshop, Oakland, CA- 2003
  •  Djialy Kunda Kouyate 2nd Annual Jama Ak Bolo Peace & Unity Dance Conference, Arcata, CA- 2003
  • Return to Goree Dance Company Weekend Dance/Drum Conference, Baltimore, MD- 2002
  • Senegal, West Africa- 2002
  • De Anza Community College, CA
  • 2002 Jama Ak Bolo Peace and Unity Dance Conference, Humbolt County, CA
  •  2002 Baltimore, MD
  •  2001 Maimouna Keita School of Dance Annual Camp, New York, NY
  • 2000-2001 Kankouran West African Dance Company Labor Day Weekend Conference, Washington, DC

Training: West African Dance: Balasinghor School of Dance, Senegal, West Africa- National Ballet Du Senegal, Daniel Sorano Theater, Dakar, West Africa

Special Abilities: Speak four different languages: French, Wolof, Mandingue and English (Dances) Djola, Lamba, Mandinka, Bougadaboh, Mandjani, Sabar, Lindjen, Djundon, Wolosudun, Sounou, Ngrey, Balanta, Sepa Drums: Djembe, Kuitero and Sabar

References Available Upon Request