Kono Gnaga

08/27/2026

SAVE THE DATE!! Sat Oct 24th we will be hosting a joint fundraiser with FaraFina Kan to raise money for Kono Gnaga’s school programs in Mali and for scholarships for FaraFina Kan’s programs here in the DMV! More artists to be announced soon. 🇲🇱 🇺🇸 Souleymane Solo Sana Mahiri Fadjimba Keita-Edwards Farafina Kan

08/21/2026

This weekend we were all blown away by the amazing performance by FaraFinakan here in the DMV. Kono Gnaga is proud to embark on a new partnership with them, as they are dedicated to connecting youth to their African heritage through music, dance, and cultural education. Together, we are creating meaningful cross-cultural connections between youth in the United States and Mali through the shared experience of cultural heritage. This partnership expands opportunities for learning, artistic collaboration, and cultural exchange while ensuring that traditional knowledge is celebrated and passed on to future generations. By investing in young people, we are building bridges across continents and strengthening communities through the arts. Save the date for our Event on October 24th Joe's Movement Emporium Souleymane Solo Sana Mahiri Fadjimba Keita-Edwards Farafina Kan

07/11/2026

Drissa Konate is an amazing Malian artist!! Our organization Kono Gnaga collaborated with him on a children’s book. He created a series of paintings along with Terae Soumah that we photographed for the illustrations. We are still looking for a way to publish! Info in the comments! Souleymane Solo Sana Drissa Konate Kono Soumah

https://www.dw.com/en/mali-artist-turns-buses-into-climate-warnings-on-wheels/video-77630271?fbclid=IwdGRjcATCjh1wZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKj4VRJWQKbkTpeKJiJ5GJH8swuwhmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6i_uXbKI5HLu5-H64ErdoXnSrk8ll6GLK1zaEaEi8CQwRnthhKqg4rulzICQ_aem_d9Rql6122KTUVLotv4j9cQ

Climate messages roll through Bamako as artist Drissa Konaté transforms buses into moving canvases, using bold imagery to spark awareness and inspire collective action.

04/22/2026

Souleymane Solo Sana is teaching in Austin, Texas this weekend!!

04/11/2026

We are proud to showcase La Troupe Kono-Gnaga Dance and Drum-Ensembles that will be performing in Bamako next week at the FIMAK festival!! This is the young generation of artists that we and Solo Sana have been working with. Bravo!
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Nous sommes fiers de vous présenter la troupe Kono-Gnaga et ses ensembles de danse et de percussions, qui se produiront à Bamako la semaine prochaine dans le cadre du festival FIMAK !! Voici la jeune génération d'artistes avec laquelle nous travaillons, en collaboration avec Solo Sana. Bravo !

04/07/2026

We are so excited to share with you Kono Gnaga’s Dance and Drum Ensemble in Mali! 🇲🇱 This inspiring group of young traditional artists has been nurtured and mentored by Souleymane “Solo” Sana, helping to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Malian music and dance. Stay tuned to learn more about their journey and incredible talent!
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Nous sommes ravis de vous présenter l'ensemble de danse et de percussions de Kono Gnaga au Mali ! 🇲🇱 Ce groupe inspirant de jeunes artistes traditionnels a été formé et encadré par Souleymane « Solo » Sana, contribuant ainsi à préserver et à mettre en valeur le riche patrimoine culturel de la musique et de la danse maliennes. Restez à l'écoute pour en savoir plus sur leur parcours et leur incroyable talent !

02/28/2026

A very special thanks to Ginger Jackson, aka Mama Ginger, for your continued and unwavering support of Kono Gnaga. Your generosity makes it possible for us to partner with schools in Mali, teach and preserve cultural heritage, build leadership skills, and most importantly, bring joyful smiles to children’s faces. ❤️ We are so grateful for you!

02/14/2026

🎉 Kono Gnaga’s 2026 School Festival in Mali was a resounding success! Across schools in Bamako, students took part in vibrant dance and music programs that celebrated their rich cultural heritage. Beyond the fun, these activities boosted confidence, strengthened connections with their schools, and inspired a love for learning. ✏️📚 Every participant also received school supplies to support their academic journey. Many thanks to Director

MusicAndDance EducationMatters

01/08/2026

This Saturday is the Kono Gnaga Festival in Mali! Check out ’s live feed starting at 11am Eastern Time if you want to join and see all the great work the students have been doing. This year is especially important as the festival will honor 2 of Mali’s great artist that we lost this year-Issa Diallo, Director of Ballet du District, and Bina Dramane Sanogo. 🇲🇱 🇲🇱 🇲🇱

12/30/2025

This has been a difficult year on so many levels, in particular as the Kono Gnaga family and the Mali arts community lost 2 of our greatest artists, Issa Diallo, Director of Ballet du District, and Bina Dramane Sanogo. We are honored to be able to hold our annual festival as a tribute to them. Our team of artists have been working with students at 4 schools and we are excited to see the results of their hard work. 🇲🇱 🇲🇱 🇲🇱