FARA TOLNO is an artist and educator who specializes in Guinean music and dance. Fara spent nine years as the lead drummer for Les Merveilles de Guinea (The Wonders of Guinea) under the tutelage of West Africa’s most influential director and choreographer, Kemoko Sano. Living in the United States for the past 15 years, Fara has shared his powerful presence as a performer and teacher in communities across the country, as well as performing with many of the world’s premier musicians including Mamady Keita, Burning Spear, Neil Young, Sekouba Bambino, Otis Taylor, Joe Cocker, Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita Habibe Koite, B.B. King, Oumou Sangare, and many more. Fara’s performance style has been described as mystical as he dazzles audiences around the world.
Fara is the first among his peers to earn a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance, aiming to increase the professional recognition of African Dance in the United States. His extensive knowledge make him a sought after artist, not only in the USA, but internationally as well. His artistic works explores the complexities, influences, and impact of West African music and dance in the United States, integrating traditional and modern aesthetics. He is truly changing the fabric of how West African dance is received in this country at a University level, societal level and community level. Many dance forms have their roots in African Dance, and Fara Tolno is bringing that to light in a powerful and accessible way.
Fara is the founder of the non-for- profit organization, Kissidugu Foundation. Kissidugu Foundation is committed to creating sustainable and equitable opportunities for individuals and communities, through civic dialogue, education, cultural preservation and the perpetuation of Guinean music and dance. Kissidugu, also presents a drum and dance camp called Camp Merveilles in Arizona, Utah and Hawaii. Camp Merveilles brings world-class artists from all around the African Diaspora to share their cultural arts and heritage.
Fara has developed Project Drum, a business designed to provide rhythm based educational and teambuilding services to schools, organizations, teams, music educators and corporations. Rooted in the rich musical traditions of West Africa, Project Drum strives to bring people from all walks of life together for a joyful and enriching experience. Through this program Fara works with students, trains teachers and performs in schools, sharing West African music, dance, and culture, and ways to implement this music into the classroom.
Fara also provides access to the rhythms of Guinea through his Rhythm Reference Project, the most comprehensive audio and notation library ever compiled for West African Drumming. This project provides instructions and audio tutorials on over 50 traditional rhythms, all recorded by Fara.
Fara is the first among his peers to earn a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance, aiming to increase the professional recognition of African Dance in the United States. His extensive knowledge make him a sought after artist, not only in the USA, but internationally as well. His artistic works explores the complexities, influences, and impact of West African music and dance in the United States, integrating traditional and modern aesthetics. He is truly changing the fabric of how West African dance is received in this country at a University level, societal level and community level. Many dance forms have their roots in African Dance, and Fara Tolno is bringing that to light in a powerful and accessible way.
Fara is the founder of the non-for- profit organization, Kissidugu Foundation. Kissidugu Foundation is committed to creating sustainable and equitable opportunities for individuals and communities, through civic dialogue, education, cultural preservation and the perpetuation of Guinean music and dance. Kissidugu, also presents a drum and dance camp called Camp Merveilles in Arizona, Utah and Hawaii. Camp Merveilles brings world-class artists from all around the African Diaspora to share their cultural arts and heritage.
Fara has developed Project Drum, a business designed to provide rhythm based educational and teambuilding services to schools, organizations, teams, music educators and corporations. Rooted in the rich musical traditions of West Africa, Project Drum strives to bring people from all walks of life together for a joyful and enriching experience. Through this program Fara works with students, trains teachers and performs in schools, sharing West African music, dance, and culture, and ways to implement this music into the classroom.
Fara also provides access to the rhythms of Guinea through his Rhythm Reference Project, the most comprehensive audio and notation library ever compiled for West African Drumming. This project provides instructions and audio tutorials on over 50 traditional rhythms, all recorded by Fara.