Mamoudou CONDE – President A Master sculptor and carver, Mamoudou Condé has had a lifelong interest in the arts. He created World Music Productions in 1994: the organization preserves, spreads, and promotes African culture using arts as a communicative vehicle: through technology, live performances, films, the Internet, radio and television, the traditional and contemporary heritage of African history, dance and music is shared with the entire planet. In 1998, Condé became the Managing Director and Producer of the country’s National dance and music ensembles Les Percussions De Guinée, Les Ballets Africains and Ballet National Djoliba. That same year, Mamoudou Condé broke a taboo and made history when he created Amazones Women Master Drummers, the first women percussion group in Africa to perform on traditional instruments, historically reserved to male players only. World Music Productions has toured Les Ballets Africains, Les Percussions de Guinée, Le Ballet National Djoliba, Legends of West Africa and Amazones Women Master Drummers (now NIMBAYA!), as well as several other artists to Europe, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, North America, Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to performances in major theaters and festivals, Mamoudou Condé has worked with tens of thousands of children in schools accross the United States and abroad, sharing with them the beauty of Africa’s rich cultural heritage. Condé’s dedication to the preservation of the musical traditions of Africa has earned him respect worldwide. Notably, in 2003, the City of San Francisco honored Mr. Condé, and in 2004 he received the International Cultural Treasury Award from the City of Los Angeles. Mamoudou Conde’s work is a reflection of his deep love and respect for the people of Africa and the region’s rich cultural history. He says, “ I want to build a bridge that will connect the culture of Africa with the rest of the world, so that all people can benefit from the knowledge of our planet’s oldest civilization. It will bring a message of peace and unity through music, drumming, dance and storytelling.” Awards Received by Mamoudou Conde - 1994: Award by The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce (NY), for professional achievement and commitment to the Rochester community; - 2002 : Mamoudou Conde, Percussions de Guinée and Amazones, Women Master Drummers receive a gold medal from the Mayor of St-Denis at the 11th Festival International de Percussions de l’Ile de la Réunion (France) - 2003: Certificate of Honor from Mayor Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. of the City of San Francisco; Proclamation from the City of San Francisco to make February 23rd “Les Percussions de Guinée Day”; Certificate of Honor from the Board of Supervisors of the City of San Francisco when Mamoudou Conde opened the Board of Supervisor’s meeting as Honorary Chair; Certificate of Recognition from California Senator John L. Burton. - 2004, International Cultural Treasury Award for Les Ballets Africains by Mayor James K. Hahn of the City of Los Angeles; Certificate of Appreciation for Les Ballets Africains by Bernard C. Parks, City Council Member of 8th District, City of Los Angeles; Certificate of Honor from the City of Detroit, MI. - 2007: Certificate of Honor from the City of Warsaw, Poland
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