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Djeli Moussa Diabate  was borhas been one of the finest dancers with the National Ballets of Guinea and was Artistic Director for National Ballet Silimbo of Senegal for many years. He is a master dancer, drummer and musician that has toured Africa, Europe Asia and the U.S.A. He has also performed on Broadway(New York City), at Yale Repertory Theater and at Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Moussa is the son of the Chief of the Djelis, El Hadj Komba Ansou Diabate of Conakry, Guinea.  El Hadj Komba Ansou Diabate for more than 35 years was a founding member of the National Instrumental Ensemble and composer of the Guinea National Anthem. Moussa is also a Griot from the great lineage of the Diabate Family from the Malinke people of Guinea, West Africa. Moussa was taught the dance, music, storytelling, history and mythology of West Africa by his father, Komba Ansou Diabate, the "Great Griot of Guinea", and his mother, one of the premiere dancers with Les Ballet Africains. Moussa has trained and toured with the National Ballet Djoliba and the National Theatre of Dakar's Ballet Silimbo.  A former lead dancer for the Troupe Federale de Conakry III National Ballet of Guinea. Moussa came to the United States teaching traditional performing arts and worked on Broadway in George C Wolfe's production of 'The Tempest'. Moussa also worked as assistant choreographer and consultant for Savion Glover's hit show, "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk".  Since 1987,  Mr Diabate has choreographed, performed. lectured and taught extensively in the U.S, Japan, France and West Africa. He is the founder and artistic director of Djely Kunda West African Dance Company and Mandinka 13 in Dallas, Texas.

*Djeli is a messenger of the African tradition.  He or she is a historian, a teacher, and adviser. Sometimes a healer who strongly influences African arts and culture. As the author Amadou Hampate Ba wrote, "When a djeli is dying, it is like a library is burning. " 

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