Famoro Dioubate was born in 1965 in Conakry, Guinea to a family of Djellis*. He is the grandson of El Hadj Djelli Sory Kouyate, a legend of the balafon. All his close family members are musicians, singers and dancers. Famoro demonstrated much talent for the balafon at an early age. 

When he was fifteen years-old, he was accompanying one of the greatest stars of Guinea: Sekouba Kandia Kouyate. At 24, he became a member of the prestigious “Ensemble Instrumental National” where he deepened his knowledge of the ancient Mandeng musical tradition playing along with the most respected musicians of his country. He has toured Africa with his own group: Djelia. Through his career, he recorded, performed and toured with the greatest names in West African music: Morry Kante, Ami Koita, Sekouba Bambino, to name a few. He now lives and works in New York City, where he performs and records. 

*The Djellis, or Griots, are a caste of musicians/story-tellers. In a tradition that does not include written language, they are, effectively, the living libraries of their culture, remembering in songs and stories the history and lineage of their people.