Bassekou Kouyate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Mali’s Bassekou Kouyate is set to perform on Thursday, October 30, 2014, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Bassekou Kouyate is a master of the ngoni, an ancient West African lute and the essential instrument of jeli (griot) culture. Equipped with a superb dexterity and remarkable lineage—he is descended from generations of jelis on both sides—he’s the full embodiment of his tradition. Bassekou Kouyate is also a great innovator and visonary, who uses an ensemble format with four sizes of ngoni worn strapped like electric guitars, adding strings and introducing new plucking methods.

Bassekou Kouyate’s albums include I Speak Fula, Jama Ko and his debut album, Segu Blue, released in 2007.

Thursday, October 30, 2014, 19:00 (7:00 pm)
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
1000 5th Ave, at 82nd Street
$35 Tickets