Fode playing the drum. Photo credit: Toby Stover RETURN to ARTIST DIRECTORY

NAME: Fakoli Drum & Dance led by Fode Sissoko CULTURE: Senegalese GENRE: Kora, traditional drum & dance REGION: Hudson Valley COUNTY: Ulster BIO: Fakoli Dance and Drum is founded by Fode Sissoko, master drummer, Kora player, composer and choreographer from Senegal, West Africa. Fode is the grandson of Soundioulou Cissokho, king of the Kora and most renowned master in all of West Africa. Fode performed as a Griot, began Kora at age 5 and by 8 was playing the Djembe and Dun Dun Drums. An acknowledged master, Fode toured Africa, Europe and America, also performing with Baba Olatunji for 9 years. Fode Sissoko has created Fakoli Dance & Drum, an educational organization of music, drum, dance, and cultural exchange. Fakoli means “the ancestor” in Mandinko, Fode’s native language. Mr. Sissoko leads ongoing trips to Senegal, where students are immersed in the music, language and atmosphere of traditional African culture. He also teaches ongoing classes and workshops in drum, dance, kora, and song. Fode is available for master classes, workshops, drum and instrument sales and repairs. He is also available for folkloric performances in full costume with traditional music and dance or with his band, “Fakoli” an Afro pop group of original Mandinko music. DISCOGRAPHY: Drum in the Fire LISTEN to a sample: http://www.myspace.com/fakoli WEBSITE: www.fakolidanceanddrum.com CONTACT:845-687-0692, tobystover@earthlink.net

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