N’Faly Kouyate was born into the most famous family of jalis of the Manding, the region of West Africa which includes Guinea-Conakry, Mali, the Gambia,…
Artist Profiles: N’Faly Kouyate
Tag: Guinean music
Artist Profiles: Mory Kanté
The initiation of a jali (also known as griot) begins before his birth. While she carried the son of El Hadj Djélifodé Kanté, Fatouma Kamissoko…
Artist Profiles: Momo Wandel Soumah
Momo “Wandel” Soumah Guinean singer, composer, and alto saxophonist, Momo ?Wandel? Soumah, was considered one of the greatest saxophonists in Africa. He was very influenced…
Artist Profiles: El Hadj Djeli Sory Kouyate
El Hadj Djeli Sory Kouyate is one of the greatest balafon players in West Africa. He is the Director of the prestigious Ensemble Instrumental National…
Artist Profiles: Alpha Yaya Diallo
Alpha Yaya Diallo is a formidable guitar player. He was born in Guinea-Conakry and has been playing since the age of 12. While in college…
Artist Profiles: Ba Cissoko
Ba Cissoko is a talented Guinea-Bissauan multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, born in 1967 He’s a jeli (also known as griot), part of a long line of…
Mandinka Trailblazer
Ba Cissoko – Djeli (Cristal Records, 2016) Djeli is the title of the latest album by Guinean multi-instrumentalist and composer Ba Cissoko. He’s a jeli…
Artist Profiles: Eneida Marta
Captivating vocalist Eneida Marta was born in Guinea-Bissau and later moved to Portugal. Descending from a family of artists, especially her father, who came from…
Artist Profiles: Ze Manel
Singer and multi-instrumentalist, Ze Manel is one of the most famous and influential contemporary musician to emerge from the West African country of Guinea Bissau.…
Artist Profiles: Sekouba “Bambino” Diabaté
Sekouba “Bambino” Diabaté was born in the small village of Siguiri (Guinea) near the Malian border. He is descended from griots or jeli (a caste…