At Nearly 80, Manana Cissé Leads the Ballets Africains and Upholds Their Tradition

Manana Cissé, born in 1947 in Boké, Guinea, is an iconic figure of the Ballets Africains, the prestigious troupe she joined at the age of twelve.

Now nearly 80 years old, she serves as the artistic director of this legendary troupe, which was a symbol of Guinea’s cultural renewal.

In an exclusive interview with RFI, she recounts her legendary ultra-fast dance movement, her commitment alongside Ahmed Sékou Touré, as well as the legacy of Keita Fodéba, founder of the Ballets Africains.

Manana Cissé also discusses the new energy brought to the troupe by the show “Mansa Moussa, King of Gold.”