After the independence of Guinea in 1958, the traditional music of Guinea was heavily supported and promoted by the state, leading to a nation wide search for the best artists, and the creation of the national "Les Ballets Africains" (with the famous Famoudou Konate and Fanta Kaba) and later the ballet "Djoliba" (with Mamady Keita). Both of these ballets extensively toured across the globe and are the forerunners for the entire ballet scene of West Africa.

These ballets were entrusted with the task of bringing West African music and dance on to the international stage. The choreographers were faced with the difficulty of satisfying the traditional Western style of stage performance where one group performs, while the other listens and watches but does not take part. The traditional village festival customs were inappropriate for this setting. Therefore many things were changed: the length that any one particular rhythm would be played was considerably shortened, rhythms and dances from completely different festivals and ethnic groups were mixed, dance choreography was extended, and musical ideas such as breaks and arrangements were integrated.

The tours of these ballets brought West African percussion music and dance performance to the western world. The opening of these countries to foreigners made it increasingly possible to bring this art to the international scene. Many African artists now perform internationally, as well as westerners who have travelled to West Africa to experience first hand this aspect of the culture.

Nowadays in Conakry and Bamako, there are many performing ballets, training and performing at different levels. They are comprised of singers, dancers and musicians who train regularly, and perform at various events, while some groups are invited to perform internationally, both in West Africa and across the globe.