Mandjou Koné was born and raised in West Africa in the countries of Mali and Burkina Faso. She was born into the Koné family, a well-known Griot Family. The Griots people of West Africa are world renown for their unique ability to record events carefully and accurately, passing history from one generation to the other. One cannot learn to become a Griot; rather one is born into it. Being a Griot there is a responsibility to preserve the culture.

As a young girl Mandjou assisted her Griot father in keeping his band alive by singing, dancing and playing instruments like the Djembe, Bala, Dundun, Kora and Tama. She also danced and performed with the National Ballet of Burkina Faso. With her brothers group ‘Surutukunu’ Mandjou toured Europe extensively as lead singer. Mandjou was then invited to come to the Unite States to help translating a documentary about the last 40 years of her family’s musical tradition and history.

Taale Laafi Rossellini met the Kone family in Burkina Faso in the late 60's. He produced a documentary about the Kone Family, titled "Great Great Great Grandparents' Music" The film's US premiere was in the National Museum of African Art in Washington DC, Best Documentary Nomination, Los Angeles PanAfrican Film Festival, the biggest Black film festival in the U.S. and later on the west coast at the Cascade African Film Festival in Portland Oragon. "Great Great Great Grandparents' Music" was praised by documentary critics, and recieved several awards and nominations, including: * Prix Spécial Award, FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma de Ouagadougou), the biggest Black film festival in the world. Awarded by Ousmane Sembene, internationally acclaimed author and filmmaker.

Mandjou is a very popular dance educator and has been teaching and performing over the past eleven years throughout the US. In March 2003 in Santa Cruz, CA she was honored with the ‘Calabash Award’ for her excellence in the ethnic arts.