Mamady Keïta was born in August 1950 in Balandugu, a village located near the river Fé in the Wassolon region in Siguiri province, Republic of Guinea.

His father was a master hunter and fida tigi (master of plant lore and healer). Wishing to know the destiny of the child that she was carrying, his mother went to consult a soothsayer.

He announced that this would be her last son and added, "...you must let the child play, for that is how he will make his name. The renown of your son will go beyond Balandugu, beyond Guinea, beyond all of Africa and will reach lands that we have never even heard of...!"

His gift soon astonished everyone!

Mamady Nankama, (Mamady who was born for that) and Balandugudjina, (devil of Balandugu), were his two nicknames. People wondered how such a small boy could coax such remarkable sounds out of a drum.

At the age of 7, Mamady was initiated into the ways of the djembe (traditional Malinke drum) by Karinkadjan Kondé, elder djembefola of Balandugu, who showed him all the secrets of the djembe. Educated in the traditions of his village, Mamady was initiated into the history and music of Manding.

With a boundless curiosity, he didn't rest until he learned first the rhythms of his native Wassolon, then those of the rest of Manding; he even learned the rhythms of neighboring ethnic groups. In 1963, Mamady was chosen from among all the drummers of the region to join the Federal Ballet (Province of Siguiri).