Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

Jamako

Ségou-born Bassekou Kouyate is one of the most virtuouso ngoni players and is widely considered to be a moderniser of griot music. He has added additional strings to the traditional West African lute and plays it amplified. The blues guitarist Taj Mahal has called the 47-year-old Malian «a genius and living proof that the blues originates from the Ségou region». The crystal clear sound of four ngonis and polyphonic singing distinguish the sound of Kouyate and his band. He also sees music as a peaceful weapon: he is one of the courageous artists resisting Islamists’ attempts to oppress traditional Malian culture. His latest album «Jama ko» is a call for tolerance and peace. (ron)