Featured artist with AfricaNashville’s Yeli Ensemble, Ibrahima ‘Ibro’ Dioubate was raised as a Djeli (also called a griot) , a ‘living archive’ of the West African people’s traditions. He grew up in Conakry, Guinea’s capital city where he learned music from his family and community from birth as his parents had. Djelis are recognized as keepers of knowledge that has been passed down through countless generations. At the age of 14 he toured to Senegal with a troupe and decided to stay, becoming an immigrant at a very young age. Life was very difficult, but he persevered and became one of the finest djembefolas of his generation representing Guinea culture in Senegal. Invited by AfricaNashville in January 2023, Ibro is now based in Nashville. He has performed over 40 shows and participated in over 70 classes since his arrival and now represents Guinea culture in Tennessee