Manimou Camara (born July 1978, Matam, Conakry Region, Guinea) is a master drummer and dancer from the West African nation of Guinea. Manimou specializes in several percussive instruments, namely the dynamic hand drum called djembe, three bass drums called Dundun, Sangban, and Kenkeni as well as the Kringni. July 2007 He is the founder of Dounia Djembe, a Seattle based percussion and dance company. He is a member of the Kpelle people and Malinke ethnic groups.
Manimou Camara began studying the music and dance of his native Guinea, West Africa at the age of twelve. His primary education was spent with Sekou Dico Sylla (now a Vancouver, BC resident), Karamoko Daman (Karamo Dama) and nationally recognized Ballet Saamato. He has played lead Dunduns for Mohamed Kemoko Sano's world renowned Ballet Merveille and conducted rhythm and dance camps for people from Europe, Japan, and the United States.
Manimou now resides in the Seattle metropolitan area where works closely with acclaimed Ghanaian performance artist performance artist Awal Alhassan.