Helen Bond
Founder and Owner - Medusa’s Musical Mysteries
Helen Bond is a dynamic percussionist, educator, and storyteller who captivates audiences of all ages with the joy, energy, and healing power of traditional West African hand drumming and songs. She received the Jack Benny Arts and Humanities Award in 2015 and was recognized by the Institut Superieur Des Arts De Guinee in January 2016 for her drumming and teaching excellence.
Inspired by music since childhood, Helen has traveled annually to Guinea, West Africa, since 2001 to immerse herself in the rich musical traditions of the Malinke and Susu people, the creators of the djembe and dunun drums. She lives and studies among local communities in Conakry and the Hamana Region, the birthplace of drumming legends such as Famoudou Konate, Nansady Keita, and Sekou Conde. Through intensive study with these and other master drummers, dancers, and griots, Helen has honed her skills and deepened her understanding of traditional rhythms and their significance in village life.
In 2006, Helen began bringing Guinean musicians to North America for workshops and master classes as part of the "Hand to Hand: Wassa Kunba! Drumming Experience." After several successful tours with Famoudou Konate, she has continued to introduce a new generation of djembe folas from the Hamana Region, including Namory Keita, Nansady Keita, and Fodé Camara, to North American audiences.
Through her company, Medusa’s Musical Mysteries, Helen offers a range of programs, including West African Drumming classes, storytelling performances, artist-in-residency programs, drum circle facilitation, workshops, balafon classes, and performance tours with expert teaching artists. She is the co-found of the performance group “Diamana Diya” which means make good music for the land. She also provides high-quality drums and traditional African instruments for purchase.
Helen is the founder of the Motherland Rhythm Community, a non-profit organization dedicated to building community and fostering cultural connections through drumming. Additionally, she co-founded the Benkadi Project, an initiative under the Motherland Rhythm Community that provides charitable assistance in Guinea, focusing on education, healthcare, clean water, economic sustainability, female empowerment, and basic human needs.
Helen teaches West African drumming to children and adults throughout the Chicago area, with regular classes at venues such as the Grayslake Heritage Center, and Gorton Community Center. As an adjunct faculty member at Lake Forest College, she teaches the “West African Drumming Ensemble” class, a required course for the Music Education degree, and the “KanSamaba West African Drumming Chamber Ensemble.” Her expertise has led her to provide “Artist in Residency” programs across the country.
Her workshops provide an immersive and energizing experience, fostering a deep connection to the rhythms of West African music. Helen's approachable teaching style welcomes students of all levels, from beginners to advanced players, to develop their skills and experience the power of communal drumming. She also offers workshops on original, non-traditional compositions that inspire creativity and encourage introspection. Participants often leave her workshops feeling revitalized and deeply connected to the primal rhythms of life.
Helen has studied extensively with renowned artists, including Famoudou Konate, Nansady Keita, Mamady Keita, Sekou Conde, Amoudou Diakite, Ubaka Hill and others. She has also trained on the balafon with Lancey Kouyate and studied West African dance with Fanta Kaba and Fanta Diawara. Since 2010, Helen has led cultural and service trips to Guinea, providing a unique opportunity for participants to study with master drummers and engage in community development through the Benkadi Project.