My name is Seydou Kienou. I am a musician, percussionist, singer, and dancer – and this is my story.

I was born in Burkina Faso into a family of Griots, traditional musicians and oral historians. My childhood was marked by silence. A severe ear infection left me deaf at a young age, preventing me from completing primary school with my peers. But the Djembé spoke for me – through its powerful vibrations, I could still feel the music, and it helped me overcome the illness. The call of the drum was irresistible: I learned to play despite my deafness. The Djembé became my voice, my path, and my life. At the age of 14, I won a music competition in Burkina Faso. That event caught the attention of a German doctor, who, after learning about my condition, decided to help me. He brought me to Germany for surgery that would allow me to regain my hearing. And it worked. Once in Germany, I began performing to let the world hear the voice of my Djembé. During a concert, a little girl approached me – poorly dressed, I assumed she was from a humble background. She told me she hadn't eaten all day so she could come and listen to me.Moved by her words, I bought her a meal and, upon her persistent request, gave her my personal drum – the one I never parted with.Her father, who was actually a wealthy and generous man, was so touched by my gesture that he took me under his wing as if I were his own son. Once again, the Djembé had protected and guided me. Thanks to him, I recovered almost all of my hearing, and my career as a musician never stopped growing. The Djembé was my salvation – and it still is my entire life. Through it, I’ve come to know generosity, gratitude, and love in all its forms. I’ve learned the values of education, tolerance, and respect. The Djembé has always been – and remains – my bridge to the world. This is the message I want to share. The rhythm of the drum has always been a call to gathering and sharing. And today, through that same rhythm, I invite everyone to openness and mutual listening – without prejudice – creating space for compassion, tolerance, positivity, and the joy of giving and receiving. Because those who give are often happier than those who receive. The drum is an instrument of peace, a unifier of peoples beyond borders and cultures. The vibrations of the Djembé bring people together – they know no division. They open us to the other, without fear or barriers. This is my Djembé: a message of love for all the people of the world.