KEIO OGAWA, based in central California and Guinea, West Africa, is an American performer, scholar, teacher of world percussion, drum builder, and has been drumming for over 35 years.  Specializing in West African percussion, Ogawa has studied extensively with master drummers Famoudou Konate and Mamady Keita in Guinea, West Africa, Europe, and the US. She recorded, produced, and performed on master drummer Mamady “Wadaba” Kourouma’s albums Oroko Kan! and Independent Music Awards 2008 Finalist, Sabari.

Ogawa is director of the Traditional West African Drum Ensemble, wife and business partner of Wadaba, and artistic director and performer in Wadaba’s concert ensemble, Wadaba AnnyeBen. She is also founder and administrator for the Oroko Fund, which provides aid to villagers in Guinea; is organizer for African Village Adventures, a drum and dance tour of Guinea featuring Wadaba; and founder of Drum Dance Arts, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting artists and benefitting the public by making traditions of drum and dance available to our American community.

In addition to teaching and performing traditional West African percussion and world percussion, Keio Ogawa is a skilled drum circle facilitator, with training from Arthur Hull, and gives inspirational speeches about her life, women’s issues, and the healing power of drumming.  Keio believes that drumming and dance help to Save The World.