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Ladji was born into the griot caste of the Mandingo ethnic group and is proud of his heritage as a wordsmith and keeper of history. As matter of fact Ladji is the descendent of Tientigiba Danté, the esteemed griot of Da Monzon Diarra, the king of the Bambara Kingdom of Ségou. This deep sense of self instills in him dignity, honesty, and integrity, which are obvious from your first encounter with him. As a young boy, Ladji would spend his school vacations taking herds of livestock to pasture. Through this he learned to respect his environment and the animals under his care, but most importantly he was able to meet people from all walks of life and learn about the diversity of cultures that exists within Mali. He developed a passion for traveling as an experiential learning opportunity and later trained as a tour-guide under the guidance of his uncle Abdoulaye Diarra, one of Mali’s most notable tour guides. With a Bachelor of Arts in English and certification as a tour guide Ladji has gained a reputation as one of the top up-and-coming tour guides in Mali. To be a great tour guide, Ladji believes one must first know the country - historically, geographically, culturally, and economically. He must also be an honest and trustworthy person. Last but not least a great guide must be of strong character, to take tourists off the beaten path and accommodate their needs without compromising local and personal integrity.