Founded by African Master Drummer Alseny Sylla and New York-based choreographer Suzannah Kincannon, Lannaya West African Drum and Dance Ensemble was established in 2000 to perform and present the art and culture of West Africa. In March of 2007, Lannaya was granted 501©(3) non-profit tax status.

Lannaya’s mission is to inspire the celebration of life that is universal from one culture to the next. The Ensemble seeks to educate and motivate creative consciousness within our community through performances, workshops, cultural and social interactions.

In the Sousou language of Guinea, West Africa, Lannaya means "confidence.” It’s what the Ensemble seeks to express in its work and to instill in its audiences. Through its performances, Lannaya strives to create an atmosphere of communal connection and support, encouraging and inspiring audiences and participants to join in the celebration!

Lannaya performs authentic and progressive interpretations of traditional African dance, music, and folklore. A multicultural and dynamic Ensemble, Lannaya entices audiences out of their seats and into the aisles with a pulsating synthesis of dance, rhythm and song. The group performs intricate and intoxicating dances, songs and rhythms from Guinea and the Ivory Coast with fierce and beautiful energy and athleticism.

Lannaya consists of an extended family of dancers, drummers and singers, and is currently led by Artistic Directors Alseny and Abu Sylla, whom both hail from Guinea, West Africa. Both started studying African drums as teenagers; later performing internationally with several different African and world music ensembles. Currently, both actively perform with Lannaya and as soloists, conduct drumming workshops, and also teach technique classes.

Individually, Lannaya members have years of extensive training, exposure and performance in dances, rhythms, and cultural traditions of the African Diaspora.

2000 marked Lannaya’s debut performance and the Ensemble was invited to perform with the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance Company at Concordia University. Since then, current programming includes performances both at home and regionally, performances for charitable events, festivals, benefits to raise public awareness for Africa, public instructional classes and workshops in dance/drum, AISD School shows, dance/drum camp intensives with nationally and internationally recognized dancers and musicians, and artist residencies.

A selection of guest artists Lannaya has featured and/or worked with in the past include Mouminatou Camara, principal dancer with Les Ballets de Africains; Mamadoube Mohamed Camara, lead djembist for Percussion de Guinea; Djeneba Sako and Moussa Traore of Mali. During January/February 2008, Guinea choreographer Ismael Kouyate, formerly with Les Ballets de Africains, was visiting artist-in-residence and set new work on the Ensemble.