Our Mission

C.O.U.M.B.A. is a production company with the aim of raising global awareness through the international languages of music and art, with a primary focus on using African diaspora culture. With the support of other organizations with a similar purpose, the organization is bringing together international and local artists in support of charitable and important causes affecting African and all communities, with the ultimate goal of creating hope, raising money and expanding cultural knowledge and acceptance.

Founder and CEO

Coumba Makalou is the Founder and CEO of C.onscientious O.rganizations U.sing M.usic to B.ring A.wareness Productions formerly, COUMBA Foundation.  Her first name, which means Creativity in Swahili, is also the acronym used to define the organization she established in 2004 to bring awareness to world causes through the enjoyment of music and art.  The Mali-born journalist holds a degree in Journalism and Advertising from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, and grew up in the neighbouring suburb area of Bethesda, MD. After several years of living in cities like New York, San Francisco, Bamako (Mali), and Abidjan (Ivory Coast), she has returned to the area where she grew up, and founded the C.O.U.M.B.A. Foundation as a result of all the different experiences and  influences of her travels.  Considering herself a nomad in nature, Ms. Makalou has traveled  throughout the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe and Brazil. As an avid music fan, she started off as a cable commercial producer/writer in Washington DC.  She has also worked for Global Publishing giant Simon and Schuster Publishing (Viacom) in NY and the Washington Times.  As the wife of musician Salif Keita, she also runs his foundation for albinism, The Salif Keita Global Foundation, based in Washington DC, and continues to raise awareness for causes through her production company and journalistic writings.