Born to a griot family in Guinea, West Africa, Ibrahima “Ibou” Sylla is the son of the great balafon player Momamdouba Sylla and singer Daloba Diambakaté, and grew up surrounded by some of the most famous artists of the time. He attended the Tinafan Centre des Arts Acrobatiques in Dixinn, Conakry under the direction of Ibrahim Maitre Bibiel.

Ibou has performed all over Africa, Europe and the United States with a variety of groups including: Fareta, Tinafan, Merveilles de Guinée, and Calvalia.

Locally, Ibou has provided artistic direction and percussion for Denbaya Drum and Dance, Wontanara, and Fefafe. He has performed at Lane Community College, the University of Oregon, the Hult Center and is a regular entertainer at the Oregon Country Fair.