We have an amazing roster of drummers, dancers, acrobats, and singers from all over the world including West Africa, Cuba, Brazil, Korea, USA and The Caribbean. We are ready for any types of occasions such as festivals, corporate events, weddings, school assemblies, university master classes, cultural celebrations, team building, graduations and birthday parties. Please let us know specifically what you need for your event by filing out our Contact Us form, or calling us at 718-786-8383.

M'Bemba Bangoura has traveled throughout the world as a performer and teacher of African drum and dance and is revered worldwide for his high level of mastery. As a native of Guinea, West Africa, M'Bemba began drumming at a very young age. By the age of 21, he was acclaimed as a master drummer and was invited to play for Ballet Djoliba, the most respected ballet company in Guinea at that time. Since moving to the US in 1992, M'Bemba has been an integral part of most major drum and dance conferences nationwide. He has taught hundreds of students, many of who are now teachers themselves. In addition, he has personally created choreography and developed repertoire for dozens of dance companies in New York City and abroad. M'Bemba is one of the foremost ambassadors for Guinean drum and dance.

Mangue Sylla was born in Conakry, Guinea West Africa where he started playing music at the age of 7. In addition to playing Djembe, Sangba and Doundoun are his main instruments. Mangue’s expertise led him to join the well-known ballet troupe: "Les Merveilles de Guinee”. This provided him the opportunity to travel throughout Africa and eventually move to New York City. Today, Mangue travels extensively in the US teaching and performing and is one of the most sought after Doundoun, Sangban, and Djembe players around. He has been with Magbana Drum & Dance NYC since 2006.

Kolipe Camara Ibrahima "Kolipe" Camara is a Master Drummer from Guinea West Africa who began playing Djembe at the age of 10. At an early age Kolipe traveled throughout the regions of Guinea learning the different types of musical instruments, rhythms and dances from the many ethnic groups of Guinea. In 2000, Kolipe joined Les Ballets Africaines, the internationally recognized representatives of West African Culture, and the highest level of accomplishment for a Guinean percussionist. As a lead drummer for the Ballet, Kolipe toured throughout Africa and the United States, eventually settling in New York City. Kolipe has been teaching, touring and performing with Magbana since 2008, continually pleasing crowds as a dynamic musician with a powerfully positive presence.

Famaro Diabate was born in 1965 in Conakry, Guinea to a griot family. He is the grandson of El Hadj Djelli Sory Kouyate, a living legend of the Mandeng balafon. During his teens he spent a five years in Abidjan and worked with Cheik Smith-Sherif and Sekou Camara Cobra. Back in Conakry he co-founded "Les Heritiers" with Sekouba Kandia Kouyate and recorded the albums "Kandia Dinke" and "Nyoumekela" with this group. Concurrently, he was the understudy of his grandfather in the Ensemble Instrumental National and routinely performed for the President and visiting foreign dignitaries. He was a member of Mory Kante's orchestra for the performances and recording of the "Traditional Symphonie." In the early nineties, he was a member of the "Groupe Standard" which accompanied most of the visiting great stars of African music in Guinea. Famaro made a strong name for himself and moved to the United States in the late nineties. He is in high demand as a free-lance musician, playing everywhere from nightclubs to Carnegie Hall.

Kadiatou Kante was born in the village of Siguiri, Guinea,West Africa. Encouraged by her parents to develop her artistic talents her love of dance became her chosen path in life. At age 7 Kadiatou began her formal training under the tutelage of Master Artist Kemoko Sano, the Director of the world class performance ensemble, Les Ballets Africains. Kadiatou's talent, enthusiasm and dedication landed her positions in some of Guinea's most notable West African performance companies, including Les Merveilles, The National Circus of Guinea, Soleil d'Afrique, and Ballet Fareta. Kadiatou spent several years touring throughout Africa with the various ensembles in which she participated. She came to the United States with Les Merveilles in 1999 to perform at Disney World. Today Kadiatou continues to teach dance and perform throughout the United States. Kadiatou currently resides in New York City where she teaches dance, conducts workshops and performs.

Yalani Bangoura is a master dancer, performer, choreographer, acrobat and teacher of dances from Guinea, West Africa. He is also known for his exciting hip-hop dance. Yalani is currently a member of Magbana Drum & Dance NYC, as well as the award-winning West African dance and drum company Les Merveilles de Guinea.

Namaire Bio coming soon.

Laurent Camara is one of the world's most renowned percussionists, a true virtuoso of the djembe drum. He has had a long and illustrious career. In 1973, Sekou Toure, former dictator of Guinea, presented Laurent with the Best Drummer medal, an honor that has not been given to anyone else. In 1974 he was recruited to become a member of Ballet Djoliba, the National Company of Guinea. In 1984 he became second soloist in Les Ballets Africain where he continued in that capacity until 2000. He has performed all over the world to rave reviews with these companies and has personally defined a large amount of the djembe repertoire. Laurent is a true icon in the African music world.

Hasan Bakr is a natural musician and has a 22-year history in conducting African musical instrument demos, student assembly programs, in- school artist residencies and youth empowerment workshops. He is also a 1998 Ethnic Dance Award Recipient. He has performed with a number of artists including The Winard Harper Sextet, Snow, Hassan Hakmoum, Zimbabwean Mbira Master Ephat Mujuru, Salieu Suso, Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya, The Meditations, Veiux Diop and many more. As a composer, he has penned a collection of works for dance and the media arts with a co- writer's credit on the film, "Brooklyn Babylon. While actively pursuing a career in drumming, Hasan molded a unique vocal ability that landed a position as lead singer in the legendary Spirit Ensemble and HeritageOP, both New York based percussion ensembles.

Baba Richard González is a professional dancer from Puerto Rico, specializing in traditional dance from Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico. His educational background includes Katherine Dunham technique and Haitian folklore at the New York City based studios Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and at Steps on Broadway. Mr. González is founder of the award-winning OCHUMARE Dance Ensemble. He tours extensively, teaching, and performing throughout the United States and the Caribbean , including the Colorado Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Omega Institute, and the New Orleans African Heritage Dance Festival at Tulane University. His commitment to the rich traditions of the Caribbean fuels his passion for documenting Afro-Caribbean dances and ensuring their preservation through performance and education. He is a priest in the Regla de Ocha de los Lucumi, a position that informs his research into both the ritual and the secular dances of the Caribbean.

Michael Markus - Founder and Artistic Director, Magbana Drum and Dance NYC As a musician, artistic director, educator and performer, Michael Markus has spent over twenty years playing hand drums. As a student of movement, he has immersed himself in the dances of West Africa and studied Chinese martial arts. Along with a BFA in percussion, he mentored with accomplished master indigenous artists and travels yearly to Guinea. In addition to administrating, directing and performing with Magbana Drum and Dance NYC, Michael is a visionary and charismatic teacher of drum and dance workshops throughout the United States and Canada. In 2004, Michael co-produced and released a CD of his group, Magbana, as well as a series of 11 educational percussion CDs of rhythms from Guinea. As a world music clinician, he has presented at versatile venues ranging from college music and dance departments to inner city community centers. He has regularly developed and conducted workshops for such nationally recognized events as The Percussive Arts Society International Conventions and The Woodwind and the Brasswind Percussion Clinics. He has also created commissioned pieces, composing and directing choreography for such groups as Ethos Percussion, which debuted his work at the Symphony Space in New York City. Michael is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of cultural arts and socioeconomic development in Guinea, West Africa, and along with Tom Kondas, founded Wula Drum and the production of authentically elegant and professional African drums.