World-renowned African drummer and ensemble to perform free concert at FSU’s College of Music
By: Susan Baldino, Anna Prentiss | Published: February 19, 2026 | 2:00 pm | See original story at news.fsu.edu
African drummer, composer, dancer and singer Sidiki Conde will bring his high‑energy performance to the FSU College of Music.
“SIDIKI! The Pulse of Africa” will take place on Friday, March 6, at the Lindsay Recital Hall in the Kuersteiner Music Building (KMU) at the FSU College of Music, with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. in the KMU Lounge and the performance running from 7 to 8 p.m.
UPDATED LOCATION:
TURNBULL CONFERENCE CENTER
Pre-concert reception at the entrance to the auditorium; Performance in Room 208
(updated 2/26/26 at 8:45am)
“We are pleased to work with community partners to expose our students to performers and music they might otherwise not have the opportunity to experience,” said Lori Gooding, professor of music therapy at the College of Music. “These opportunities can inspire new perspectives, encourage creativity and help build a sense of community among students and the broader Tallahassee area.”
“When I sing and dance, I am a bright star on the stage, not a dark figure in a wheelchair. When I teach, I help my students transform themselves, too. They become happy, free, lighter and more confident. Their joy comes back to me and assures me that my life has one purpose: to dance and teach.”
— Sidiki Conde
For his FSU College of Music performance, Conde will be joined by celebrated African drummer Abdoulaye Toure, a former performer with Guinea’s National Ballet Djoliba and current resident musician for Princeton University’s West African dance classes.
“Sidiki’s talent is inspirational. Unable to walk because of polio, he ‘dances without feet’ to thrill audiences from Tanzania to Guinea and New York to New Orleans with his spirited music and zeal,” said Susan Baldino, Arts4All Florida program coordinator.
Members of Tallahassee’s Ayoka Afrikan Drum and Dance will also perform. The group is committed to making African drumming and dance traditions accessible to the community. Ayoka shares Conde’s belief that “dance and drumming are more than art forms — they are transformative tools for healing, joy and community upliftment.”
Conde, who grew up in Guinea, West Africa, experienced a life‑changing injury at age 14.
“Coming from school, I fell down and never stood up again,” he said. “Everything was paralyzed. My back, hand, leg. It was polio.”
Facing the stigma associated with disability in his community, he strengthened his upper body and learned to walk and dance on his hands. Since then, he has dedicated his life to sharing joy and resilience through music and dance.
“When I sing and dance, I am a bright star on the stage, not a dark figure in a wheelchair,” Conde said. “When I teach, I help my students transform themselves, too. They become happy, free, lighter and more confident. Their joy comes back to me and assures me that my life has one purpose: to dance and teach.”
Known for his distinctive dance style and accomplished musical career, Conde has performed with African music icons Youssou N’Dour, Salifa Keita and Baaba Maal. He previously served as a soloist and director of choreography for the respected ballet troupe Les Merveilles de Guinea.
After touring with the troupe, Conde relocated to New York City, where he founded the Tokounou All‑Abilities Dance and Music Ensemble. The group provides performances and educational programs for people of all ages and abilities, including students with disabilities and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Conde’s artistic impact includes being named a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 2007, co‑founding Afro‑Jersey with singer‑songwriter Terre Roche in 2008, serving as the subject of Alan Govenar’s 2013 documentary “You Don’t Need Feet to Dance,” releasing Africa in New Orleans in 2025 and earning a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship that same year.
The performance is sponsored by Arts4All Florida, the state organization on arts and disabilities, whose mission is to ensure universal access to the arts. Arts4All Florida partners with Opening Nights and the FSU College of Music on this event with support from The Brady Foundation and the FSU student‑led organization University of Choice.
The event is free and open to the public, with reservations available.
For more information, visit music.fsu.edu.
