Lanciné’s Gift

In the early 2000s, I formed the Kassa Flute Co. with my friend and mentor, Lanciné Conde. We worked together making and playing traditional tanbinfulé until his untimely passing in 2021 at the age of fifty-one.

After Lanciné’s passing, the idea of going back to Africa was too difficult. Life, the pandemic, and other projects took me in other directions. In 2025, however, after completing work on the English version of Famoudou Konaté’s new book, an opportunity for a return presented itself. I seized the opportunity to pay a long-overdue visit to Lanciné’s family.

The time I spent with Lanciné’s family in Guinea was joyful and bittersweet. We reminisced about Lanciné and the musical legacy he left behind. I was surprised to learn that just two weeks before his passing, Lanciné had completed work on a beautiful batch of new flutes. After applying the finising touches, he tucked them away in a corner of his workshop, waiting for my return. His son Mamoudou unearthed them some time later, and kept them safe until we could be reunited.

In discussing what to do with the flutes, we had no doubt about Lanciné’s intentions: as always, they would be made available through our joint venture, Kassa Flutes, and provide needed support for his family in Conakry.

Now that I’ve returned to the States, I’ve spent some time dusting off and playing these seven flutes. As always, Lanciné’s work is beautiful. The flutes resonate with all the beauty and magic that is the traditional Malinké culture. To me, they are a treasure — Lanciné’s last gift to the world.

Mamoudou expressed Lanciné’s wish that I keep one flute for myself as a gift, but aside from that, all proceeds from the sales of these flutes will go directly to Lanciné’s family.

Purchase a Flute

Click “Add to Cart” below to purchase one of these beautiful flutes.

Video Demonstration

Watch Mamady Mansaré, master flute player from Guinée, demonstrate one Lanciné’s flutes during my trip to Conakry in February, 2025:

Photos

Famoudou Konaté and I went to visit the Conde family in Conakry in February 2025.

Click images for larger view.