KanKouran West African Dance Company was formed in 1983, in Washington, D.C., by Artistic Director Assane Konte and former Director of Music, Abdou Kounta, who grew up together in Dakar, Senegal. Assane came to DC directly from the Ivory Coast in 1978 to visit friends in the State Department. Someone told him there was a drummer in Washington who was also from Senegal. When they met that day, it had been almost 30 years since they had last seen each other. Abdou had been in DC about a year by that time. They were both in complete disbelief, while also being extremely excited.

 From DC, Assane went to San Diego to fulfill his contract with Wild Animal Park. Assane got Abdou to agree to come to San Diego for a couple of years to work with the ensemble that he had put together. After the contract was completed, Assane moved to St. Louis and Abdou went back to DC. The group came together again for a second contract in San Diego. After the second contract, Assane decided it was time for him to move to Washington, DC and start his own dance company. Initially, Assane and Abdou worked with Melvin Deal and African Heritage Dancers and Drummers until it was time to branch out and establish KanKouran. 

After many months of recruiting, training and performing at local venues, KanKouran presented its first full-length concert, “A Visit to Africa,” in 1985. With that performance, an institution was born. Forty years later, KanKouran continues under the leadership of Artistic Director Assane Konte, and is still actively engaged in carrying out its mission. The company remains committed to artistic excellence in all of its performances, presentations, classes, workshops, residencies, and outreach efforts. KanKouran’s reputation as the premier West African Dance Company in the U.S. rests on the shoulders of all those who have given their time, sweat, energy, and support to this organization, and those that continue to do so today.