Mohamed Gaspard Conde was born in Conakry, the capital of
Guinea. Although his family comes from Kouroussa village, situated in the
northern part of the country.
He discovered the beauty of the music thanks to his
grandmother, Cisse Diabate, who used to sing in a folk Kouroussa band.
Encouraged by the grandmother to sing, he fell in love with djembe, especially
traditional music.
At the age of 11 he started to play drums in Sarmato de
Guinee ballet band and then he joined Sourakhata ballet where he learned how to
play from Guinea masters. Together with one of them, Mouctar Toure, he created
an independent band – Tourekounda. He cooperated with many metropolitan ballets
(Le Ballet AJK Danse de Guinee, Le Ballet Soleil d'Afrique, La Percussion Wassa
de Morcire Camara i Groupe Kouroukanfouwa), travelling with them around the
country.
During his artistic development he evolved from a student to
a teacher and a director of Sourakhata music ballet band. Before coming to
Poland he raised up a generation of young Guinea drummers.
Gaspard Conde is successful as a drum teacher. He has an
extensive knowledge not only about rhythms, but also African traditions. Together with Mouctar
Toure master and other musicians he conducted an intensive course for drummers
from whole over the world – Europeans, Americans, Japanese came over to Guinea
aiming to get to know the rhythms, dance and musical traditions.
Year 2008 – Gaspard came to Poland, invited by Kuba
Pogorzelski, to play drums together with him and teach traditional Guinea music
in Warsaw drum school Strefa Rytmu.
Grupy Perkusyjnej Strefa Rytmu,Różanystok 2010 Festival Młodzieży bez Granic
Warsztaty w CPK