Bassekou Kouyate
Bassekou Kouyate is one of the true masters of the ngoni, an ancient traditional lute found throughout West Africa, and he has collaborated with many musicians in and outside of Mali: He played in the Symmetric trio alongside Toumani Diabate (kora) and Keletigui Diabate (balafon). He was part of Taj Mahal’s and Toumani Diabate’s ‘Kulanjan’ project, as well as being one of the key musicians on Ali Farka Toure’s posthumous album ‘Savane’ which was released July 2006. He toured with Ali Farka Toure leaving a lasting impression on the audience as the band’s solo ngoni player.
After his celebrated debut album ‘Segu Blue’ (Outhere Records) and the Grammy nominated follow up ‘I speak fula’ (Outhere Records), hundreds of concerts all over the globe and performing as a headliner in the AfroCubism project he appeared onstage together with Sir Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, Damon Albarn and many others at the latest Africa Express events.
Bassekou Kouyate returned with his album ‘Jama ko’ (Outhere Records). The album was recorded during the Mali coup d’etat in March 2012 and is Bassekou’s statement to the ongoing crisis in Mali. The album was produced by Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Godspeed you! black emperor) and features Taj Mahal, Khaira Arby, Mocky Salole & many others. The album became album of the year in the World Music Charts Europe 2013 and became best world music album of the year in Les Inrockuptible, Mojo, Uncut & many others.
After the two celebrated albums Jama ko and BaPower, that went more in a rock direction, Bassekou Kouyate and his band Nogni ba returned with the more subtle and rootsy album: “Miri”. This is an album about love, friendship, family and true values in times of crisis. Miri means dream or contemplation in bamana. On Miri, Bassekou travels back to his hometown Garana, a small village at the banks of the Niger river. The instrumental song Miri captures that feeling. Bassekou sits at the banks of the Niger far away from the noise, traffic jams and political turmoil of Bamako and thinks about life.
"Ngoni virtuoso Bassekou Kouyate can make notes bend like light rays in the desertheat." - Time Out magazine
Contact our team now to discuss working with Bassekou Kouyate.
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