Tasana Camara
Tasana Camara (born January 24, 1958) is a balafon, djembe, and kora player hailing from Conakry, Guinea in West Africa.
Tasana Camara | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lansana Camara |
| Born | January 24, 1958 |
| Origin | Conakry, Guinea |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Kora, Djembe, Balafon |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
Career
He has performed with the Ballet Senegal, Ballet la Maise, Ballet Djouliba, and the National Ballet of Guinea. He helped found "Group Laiengee" a performing troupe in Guinea composed of children with significant disabilities.[1] In 2008 Tasana and Group Laiengee partnered with Dr. Donald DeVito at The Sidney Lanier Center, a public school in Gainesville, Florida for American students with disabilities.[2] This project was included in the United Nations Compendium on "Music as a Natural Resource" to find ways to make music programs a source of economic opportunity for developing communities around the world.[3] Camara performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 21, 2010 with the Sidney Lanier School Music Ensemble (musicians from both the American School and Group Laiengee).[4] The performance in New York was funded by a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts.
Recognition
He was nominated for and won the Jubilation Foundation's "Community Music Award."[5]
Personal life
He currently resides in Western Pennsylvania, teaches music lessons, and performs at local venues as well as around the rest of the United States.
References
- "Group Laiengee Archived April 26, 2015, at Archive.today", On Course Systems For Education
- "Sidney Lanier and Group Laiengee", Sidney Lanier Center (2008)
- "Music as a natural resource", United Nations, Fall (2010), p. 32-33
- "Weill Recital Hall Performance at Carnegie Hall", DeVito, Donald Dr. (2010)
- "Jubilation Foundation Fellows", Jubilation Foundation (2008)