West African music with a message -- accessible to an international audience.
We create transformative cross-cultural experiences for participants interested in West African culture, music, the arts while generating a sustainable income for the artists.
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Our Premise
Griot (or jeli) music comes from the Manding, West African culture. Since 1235 CE, the start of the Malian Empire, the music and words inspired its listeners toward a greater good, toward living together in harmony. This noble profession and the style of message that it sends need not, nor should not, be fixed to one culture anymore. We facilitate cross-cultural connections through video, audio, concerts, music workshops and seminars.
Currently with Manding Grooves
On December 11, 2022, Famoro Dioubate returned to Guinea Conakry, his home country, for the first time in 23 years. Lisa Feder, accompanied Famoro on his return. Their journey was filled with family love, heart-felt music, and many responsibilities and obligations. Stay tuned to read the story and see the video about their journey.
In early May the film short "Famoro's Return" (15 minutes) will be released. Want to stay updated? Subscribe to us on Instagram and Youtube.
Radio Show: Global Griots
Lisa Feder produced a one-hour radio show
on Afropop Worldwide in late November 2022.
The program features France-based griots, Lansiné Kouyaté (Mali), Seydou "Kanazoé" Diabaté (Burkina Faso), Moh! Kouyaté (Guinea), Djene Kouyaté (Guinea) and Mohamed "Champion" Yonne (Guinea).
On the page Global Griots, you can click on the photo to see extended video interviews and music clips by each of the artists on the radio program.
Lansiné Kouyaté
Seydou "Kanazoé" Diabaté
Mohamed Champion Yonne
Lisa Feder, Ph.D in cultural anthropology, wrote "Jeliya at the Crossroads" about her experiences of over 20 years, working with Manding Griots. These oral-historian/musicians live between the long-standing profession of their forefathers and mothers, passed down orally for 800 years, and their careers in the global music arena. To read more about it, see Lisa's webpage. A version of this book will be available in French in 2024.