This means "Thank you Mamady" in the Malinke language.

Mamady Keita was a legend in the world of djembe drumming. He started playing djembe when he was a small child, became the lead drummer in his village, and was then recruited by the president of Guinea to help spread Guinea's rich culture of music and dance throughout the world. Mamady toured for many years and then began teaching all around the world.

He said that the djembe does not see color or gender, it has no borders and he believed that if everyone played the djembe, the world would be a better place.

After battling illness for a long time, Mamady left this world and went to the world of the ancestors on June 21, 2021.

"Inika Mamady" is an original composition created by Dan Engebretson to give honor and thanks to the person that brought the djembe to so many people throughout the world, the legendary Mamady Keita.

Kuku is a traditional West African rhythm from the Manian (in Guinea) and Koyaka (in Ivory Coast) ethnic groups that originally celebrated the women as they returned home from fishing. Today it is a popular rhythm played at full moon celebrations and many other occasions. Kuku des Maokas is a slightly different version that comes from the Maoka people, with alternate dunun(bass drum) patterns and specific solo phrases.

Diyamu means 'to speak' in the Malinke language. Dan composed this rhythm while going through some major trauma and anxiety after being involved in a very serious accident that almost killed two of his friends. It kept him focused on something that he loves to do and it helped him to heal.

He took his group's name, Djembe Diyamu, and gave that name to this rhythm because the djembe speaks both figuratively and literally and in this rhythm, there is a lot of call and response, or speaking, between the drum parts. This rhythm is dedicated to his friends that were in the accident but also as a tribute to his African teachers.

N'Goron comes from the Senufo people of Burkina Faso and Cote D'Ivoire. It is played after the young girls initiation and is a very important celebration for the Senufo. N'Goron is the name of the dance and the girls dance with calabashes on their heads.

Djole comes from the Temine and Mendenyi people of Sierra Leone. It is a mask dance and the mask represents the face of a woman. It is a very popular rhythm often played at weddings, baptisms, and other celebrations, especially those honoring women. It was originally played on four square frame drums called 'siko' drums but has since been adapted to play on djembes and dununs.

Kudani is the name of the grandmother of the late master drummer Mamady Keita. Mamady had never met his grandmother but always felt her presence and love and felt that she was looking after him and protecting him. So he created this rhythm to honor her and so that her name will remain in history and not be forgotten.

This rhythm can be played for any celebration or to honor someone that has passed.

Dibon comes from the Malinke people in northeastern Guinea. Dibon is the name of a bird that is now an endangered species in the Mandingue region. The dibon live together as a couple during the day but they never spend the night together. There is a proverb that the hunters say- "The dibon couple never sleep together but their hearts are never apart."

This rhythm is traditionally played for farmers.

From the Susu ethnic group in southwest Guinea. Yankadi and Makru are two rhythms played together for a flirtation dance for young people. Some villages in rural Guinea are far apart from each other so it's often hard for younger people to meet others outside of their own village so they will organize a Yankadi festival. Mostly it's for people between the ages of 15 to 25 but sometimes older adults will join in too.

The dance begins slowly with the rhythm Yankadi as the girls and boys form rows facing each other and then slowly dance toward one another. If a boy likes a girl he will place a scarf or ribbon of cloth on her chest or around her neck as a symbol of his love.

Then a signal changes the rhythm into Makru. This rhythm is twice as fast and the rows break up and they now dance individually. Then another signal is called and the rhythm changes back into Yankadi and the boys and girls again line up to dance in rows. This change in rhythm will happen several times before it finally ends with the Makru rhythm.

From the Malinke ethnic group in northeastern Guinea. The word Kassa means "granary" and this rhythm is traditionally played for the farmers to encourage them as they work in the fields. The drummers play all day long while the girls sing and this helps the farmers to forget their fatigue and helps to make the heat bearable. At the end of the harvest, they have a celebration called Kassaladon.

From the Malinke ethnic group in northeastern Guinea. Sofa means "warrior" in the language of the Malinke people. This is a very old rhythm that was once played to encourage warriors as they went off to battle and to celebrate them upon their return.

It was originally played on a three-stringed instrument called a 'bolon'. The bolon was played by griots who knew the history of the people and had sung the praises of the wars and warriors for generations.

Sofa was later adapted to play on the djembe and dunun drums. It is no longer played in the villages but it is still taught so its story and history are not forgotten.