Mamady Keïta, born in August, 1950, is a master djembe drummer from the West African nation of Guinea. He is considered one of the world's foremost djembe players. Keïta was born in the small village of Balandugu in northeast Guinea, near the Mali border. His initiation to the djembe started at the early age of seven, under Karinkadjan Kondé, elder djembefola (master djembe player) of Balandugu. Keïta was educated in the traditions of his village and initiated into the history and music of the Mandingue people.