Thomas Gueï

Thomas Gueï was born into a family of traditional musicians and dancers. At the age of 7, he joined EDEC, one of the top art schools in Côte d’Ivoire. Now based in France, he collaborates with choreographers such as Georges Momboye on productions like “Clair de Lune,” “Boyakodah,” “Tahama,” and “Empreinte Masaï,” as well as with Merlin Nyakam on the album “Native.”

His immense talent has also led him to perform with jazz musicians such as Stéphane Huchard, Sylvain Bœuf, and Stéphane Belmondo. In 2006, he founded the collective Sounan as a tribute to the Ivorian percussion masters who came before him.

His album, “Guelassemou” (meaning ‘God does not sleep’), is inspired by traditional West African songs. Thomas Gueï tours and teaches around the world, sharing his deep passion for music. A virtuoso of the djembe, he is also one of the few musicians who plays the gloé, a traditional percussion instrument considered one of the oldest in the world.