Sidy Maiga

Business Overview

A native of Mali, West Africa, Sidy Maiga has been drumming since he was in his early teens. He learned to play in the traditional African way, by apprenticing with Master Drummers. He has played with two national touring companies in Mali and many internationally known Malian artists. In 2003, Sidy was a member of Fakoli Percussion Troupe, that won in the Mali National Drumming competition. In 2006, Sidy moved to Rhode Island, USA. Since then he has become a regular on the music scene, playing not only traditional Malian music, but also a fusion of Malian music with Latin, Blues, Brazilian as well as alongside house music DJ’s for events throughout New England and around the world.

In addition to performing, Sidy teaches djembe and dundun drumming to students at schools and universities throughout the country. Sidy loves to share his culture. Since 2009, he produces the annual West African Dance and Drum Festival: Afrika Nyaga which has been funded primarily by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA). This annual event brings together both local and international musicians and dancers to perform in Rhode Island. Sidy is the winner of multiple awards and fellowships. Notably, he won the MacColl- Johnson Fellowship in 2012. He has also been the recipient of grants and fellowships from RISCA.

In January of 2011, Sidy recorded and released his first album Malidén. In 2014, he recorded and released his second album Africa United which includes musicians from across the world, including Grammy Award winner Oumou Sangaré. In this album, Sidy ingeniously creates a very unique approach by infusing traditional African styles with modern music. He recorded and released a single, Beko Ami, written for his grandmother Ami, in the Spring of 2018. In May 2020, Sidy graduated from Berklee College of Music where he has been studying music production, music business and arranging.