About Fode Sissoko

Fode Sissoko is a master drummer, Kora player and composer from Senegal, West Africa. Fode is the grandson of Soundioulou Sissoko, King of the Kora & most renowned master in all of West Africa. Fode is a Griot/Jeli.  He began Kora at the age of 5 and by 8 he was playing the Djembe and Dun Dun Drums. An acknowledged master, Fode toured Africa, Europe and America, performing with Baba Olatunji for 11 years.

The Sissoko family are Griots/Jeli and renowned masters of kora, drum, dance and song for generations. Griots are recognized throughout Africa as keepers of the history of their people, through music and the oral traditions. Historically, musicians and griots are transmitters of wisdom. They are highly skilled performers, teachers and are craftsmen of the finest instruments made in Africa.

Fode is a central part of the Los Angeles-based collective Daansekou, led by King Tae “Daunte Fyall”. He also leads kora and drum lessons in L.A.’s Leimert Park and across the city.

Fode is presenting the new generation:

“Drums instead of guns, drums instead of violence, drum instead of harm: with ancient traditional instruments and culture, the power of the drum will heal all the wombs. And it will heal and take care of all negativities, all sickness, all different situations we call “problems” in this world.

Natural therapy, natural healing through vibration: the drum is a healing power. Fode has been traveling around the world and teaching and healing people with the magical drum, the voice of the ancestors, as a drum healer - to protect the village and truth of oral tradition of the African culture that has never been taught. All levels are welcome to his courses because it is a healing process.

Because healing is the most beautiful gift and we cannot do it alone, together we can do anything we want. But togetherness and the voice of the Spirit, what brought us together called love, will be eternal to pass down by our actions and by our being. It is the time for us to create, to come together, to teach those who are coming after us a better example: to become one love. For the voice of Peace, togetherness. Healing Power is among us through our togetherness, our breath, the heat in us and the greatest gift, we all have differences. Welcome, all of you to the bottom of the holy gift of Spirit of diversity: of understanding our differences through love. That love has been determined by us, to give back - because it is a lifetime process to understand a gift.

Let us come together, as our ancestors gave us the voice of the greatest love called: come together and pray together and be together. And through all our differences, one is not different. It is all love. The only difference is where we are brought up but there is no difference in love.

For once again we have a chance to come together to pray for love, we have that gift. You and I, when we come together, we can play togetherness to give us the greatest love and togetherness. Amen”

- Fode Sissoko