Dramane Kone (surname also spelled Koné) is a
master drummer
In African drumming, the title of master drummer is given to a drummer who is well known by other masters for their high skill and knowledge. It is a title passed down from a master to their pupil, after they have learned all there is to know abou ...
and
griot from
Burkina Faso. He is best known for his appearance (studying
balafon at age 4) in the Taali Laafi Rosselini documentary film ''Great Great Grandparents Music'', which featured vignettes of Dramane Kone's griot family life in west Africa. He specializes in the goblet-shaped hand drum called ''
djembe
A djembe or jembe ( ; from Maninka language, Malinke ''jembe'' , N'Ko script, N'Ko: ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.
According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe ...
''. He is a member of the
Dioula ethnic group.
Early life
Dramane Kone was born in the capital city of
Ouagadougou, in central
Burkina Faso. He began studying music at the age of three under Dougoutigui Kone, elder ''djembefola'' (master djembe player) of Ouagadougou. Kone was educated in the ancient drumming traditions of west Africa, and was initiated into the history and music of the Manding (also spelled Mandingue) people. His later musical education included private studies with a number of village elders, masters and
griots.
His father is the musical griot/master drummer Dougoutigui Kone. After their appearances in the Rosselini film, his father moved the family to and from Mali, west Africa.
Career
Dramane won national contests starting in 1996. The Rosselini film was released in 1997, and in 1998 Dramane went on to perform as djembefola (djembe drummer) with the National Ballet of Burkina Faso (he also plays
Dunun
Dunun (; plural dunun) (also spelled dundun or doundoun) is the generic name for a family of West African drums that have developed alongside the ''djembe'' in the Mande drum ensemble.
A dunun is a rope-tuned cylindrical drum with a rawhid ...
,
Balafon and
Ngoni) accompanying dancers in the ballet and was then promoted to lead djembefola in the NBBF before migrating to the U.S. in 1999.
Dramane Kone traveled widely in western Europe in 1997-1998. In November 2009, he taught a public masterclass on djembe and dunun at the Toronto Centre for the Arts sponsored by the Burkina Faso consulate and a private association of Burkina Faso. He performed with Djelia Kadi in Los Angeles California.
He is also the brother of griot and master drummer
Mamadou Koné
Mamadou Koné (born 25 December 1991) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian First Division B club Deinze.
Club career
Born in Bingerville, Koné was a youth product of local ES Bingerville. He moved to Rac ...
(d. 2012), and the two Koné brothers and their father played together in various traditional and popular music ensembles in Burkina Faso and elsewhere.
Koné resides in
Santa Monica,
California, United States.
See also
*
Djembe
A djembe or jembe ( ; from Maninka language, Malinke ''jembe'' , N'Ko script, N'Ko: ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.
According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe ...
References
External links
Dramane Kone official siteDavid Hilal's YouTube.com channelDramane Kone's Facebook page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kone, Dramane
Living people
African drummers
Burkinabé musicians
Master drummers
21st-century drummers
21st-century Burkinabé people
Year of birth missing (living people)