 A percussive prodigy, he was drumming in community festivals at the age of eight and was soon in demand as a djembefola across the region.From 1959 to 1985, Famoudou was the lead djembe soloist for Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée, touring the world and performing with astounding virtuosity.During this time, Famoudou himself created many of the musical arrangements now common in West African performance groups worldwide.