Abou Sylla's Introduction to the Balafon Workshop

The great balafonist Abou Sylla has been performing and teaching in the United States and abroad for the past twenty years. 

Abou Sylla was born into a family of musicians in Conakry, Guinea in West Africa. Abou’s musical career began at the age of five when his uncle gave him a djembe.

When he was a child, Abou moved from Conakry to a village where he began his study of the balafon. He lived, studied and performed with his balafon teacher until he was nineteen, at which time he moved back to Conakry to perform with his family, as well as other musicians.

After returning to Conakry, Abou was invited to join Les Ballets Africains, the prestigious national dance company of Guinea. For six years he performed with them, playing not one, but five instruments – the balafon, djembe, krin, doundoun and bote.

Abou has performed in Africa, Holland and throughout the United States.