Oumar Konaté touched his classmates with passion for music. With an bucket, helmet, and drum he performed nightly outside the family’s front door in Gao, Mali conducting his first band. In high school, Konaté accompanied the Orchestra of Gao on its national tour. He went on to the National Institute of Arts and led the school orchestra at Mali’s 2008 Biennale. In 2009, he represented Mali at the UNESCO festival in Gambia. That same year, Konaté received his Diploma from the Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maitres where he continues to teach. One of the young African artists racing to prominence, in 2011 he became guitarist and arranger for «Tounkagouna», a monthly television variety show broadcast on ORTM, TV5, and other networks. In 2012, Konaté performed at Mali’s Festival au Desert and toured the US and Canada with Khaira Arby. In 2013 and 2014 Konaté toured Europe with Vieux Farka Toure. During May/June 2014 Oumartoured the US and got rave notices. He will be appearing across the US between September 11th through October 12th 2014.