Master Drummer Dramane Kone was born in Burkina Faso, West Africa and was soon recognized as a musical prodigy of the famous Kone griot lineage. By the age of three, Dramane was studying djembe performance with his father and grandfather, both griots and master drummers with lifetimes of drumming experience. In his early childhood, Dramane and his family were documented by filmmaker Taale Laafi Rosellini in the award-winning 1997 film: Great Great Grandparent's Music.

In addition to performing with the African drum and dance group, Landiana, Dramane was a member of the Kone family group called Manding Djeli, playing African music, Jazz and Blues.

Dramane toured Europe with the National Ballet of Burkina Faso, Manding Kalou. The following year Manding Kalou recruited Dramane as lead soloist for another European tour. Following the second tour, he set his sights on traveling to the United States for a visit with his elder brother Mamadou Kone, also a well-known master drummer and griot. After an extensive tour of Europe with Manding Kalou in 1999, Dramane returned to America where he formed his own performance group, Ballet Djelia Kadi. Dramane has also performed with various African, jazz fusion and rock & roll bands in Los Angeles. 

He continues to perform regularly with various musicians at concerts, theaters, and festivals. 

Having established himself at a very early age, Dramane Kone is a world class Djembefola and Balafon performer. He has insisted that there is no such thing as a world's best musician due to the subjectivity of music appreciation.

Thank you and Merci!

Lead Drummer & Musical Director: Dramane Kone | Additional Musicians: Mike Robbins, David Hilal, & Andrew Acousta | Engineer: David Hilal | Mixed & Mastered: Miro Svetinsky | Photography & Artwork: Nicolas Provins | Recorded at SOUND CONNECTED | www.dramanekone.com | Copyright © 2018 - 2026 Dramane Kone All Rights Reserved | Unauthorized duplication is. aviolation of applicable laws | MADE IN USA | A Sound Connected Production

8 - Baragnousso

12-  Bwa Boinnou

2 - Senefoli

5 - Malo Sene

6 - Telia Foli

4 - Djelidon

11 - Anou

7 - Burkina Denou

3 - Tendoro Bobo Foli

9 - Mandeng Foli

New tracks tagged #Live Drums