Lansiné Diabaté, a Guinean musician and griot, teaches the balafon—a traditional West African xylophone—at the conservatory in Nanterre, near Paris. The balafon is deeply connected to the traditions of the griots, oral historians and musicians of West Africa, and Diabaté himself comes from this lineage. His primary focus is on the transmission of this cultural heritage to a new generation. Diabaté believes preserving and passing on the balafon's history and techniques is of paramount importance. Through his teaching, he aims to keep the ancient traditions alive. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the instrument within its cultural context. This ensures the balafon’s legacy continues beyond its musical qualities.