African drummer, composer, dancer and singer Sidiki Conde will bring his high‑energy performance to Opening Nights at Florida State University.
"SIDIKI! The Pulse of Africa" will take place on Friday, March 6, in the auditorium at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. and performance running from 7 to 8 p.m.
"Sidiki's performances are exhilarating," said Susan Baldino of Arts4All Florida who is hosting the musician in Tallahassee. "His musicianship and verve are second to none, but the real power Sidiki has is the uncanny ability to connect with people of all abilities, to make them smile, to temper their trepidations."
"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
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.
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's life story is inspirational. He grew up in Guinea, West Africa and experienced a life‑changing incident 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.
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 the album "Africa in New Orleans" in 2025, and earning a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship this past fall.
The performance is sponsored by Arts4All Florida, a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure universal access to the arts. Arts4All Florida partners with Opening Nights at FSU, the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, and the FSU College of Music with support from The Brady Foundation, the FSU student‑led organization University of Choice and Marjorie Turnbull.
The event is free and open to the public, with reservations available.
