Passion or Profession: Drummer

Period: 1950–

A world-renowned master of the drum known as the djembe, Keita was born in the northern Guinean village of Balandugu. In 1964, at the age of 14, Keita was selected as a drummer for the Djoliba National Ballet (Guinea's national ballet company) and he acted as the company's artistic director from 1979 until 1986. Two years later, Keita moved to Belgium, where he formed the musical group Sewa Kan. He continues to perform with Sewa Kan and oversees the international branches of Tam Tam Mandingue, the percussion school he founded in 1991.