Legends of West Africa rehearses for their concert tour which will begin at the Koger Center February 23, 2006.

When Laura called, the drums drowned out her voice. “Where are you?” I asked, certain she would say, “Guinea,” but she said, “I'm on Pulaski Street with my new dance team. Come on down!”

The drumbeats led me to the Columbia Music Festival Association stage where I found Laura Rich and Mamoudou Conde directing drummers on djembes, djun– djuns, sekeres, doumbeks, and koras. The rhythm drove dancers across the stage like animals of the jungle – running, leaping, and slithering. My mind went immediately to Farenya, a village in Guinea, where I have experienced similar performances six times since 1998. It is a cliche, but Africa does have rhythm, and it shakes your bones and stirs your soul.

Laura Rich is an impresario of West African dance and drumming. For years she studied with the great masters in Guinea, a major center of African theater, then began organizing performing companies. Her first troupe was Djoliba Don, then Borenya West African Drum and Dance, now Legends of West Africa, a joint venture with Mamoudou Conde, a Guinean–American who has drummed and danced with the best – Les Ballets Africains, Les Percussions de Guinee, and Le Ballet National Djoliba.

Mamady Keita joined Legends as artistic director. He is recognized as one of the five best percussionists in Guinea and has over 40 years experience. Moustapha Bangoura, the master dancer with Les Ballets Africains for years, became their choreographer. Both of these men have performed all over the world and now reside in the US. Matthew Mueller of WI was hired as business manager.

Rehearsals for the three–month tour began in Columbia two weeks ago at the studios of the Columbia Music Festival Association on Pulaski Street. The troupe is made up of 11 performers, all highly respected Guinean artists now living in the US. Mamoudou selected them based on their talent, discipline, and professionalism. Equally important since much of their time will be spent in schools, is their willingness and ability to serve as role models for young people.

The National Endowment for the Arts, a major sponsor of the tour, is funding the educational component. Each week of the tour will begin in schools where the performers will tutor students in African performing arts. A concert will be held at the school in which students will participate as drummers and dancers. The public concert will be held a few days later.

The tour will kick off with two performances at the Koger Center February 23, and then move on to MA, IN, TX, MD, GA, NC, SC, NY, CA, and TN.

The Columbia performances on February 23 are 9:30 am for students and 7:30 pm for the general public. For tickets or additional information contact the Carolina Coliseum Box Office at 803– 251–6333.