Kadialy Kouyate writes:

My name is Kadialy Kouyate. I was born in Kolda in Casamance, in the south of Senegal in 1979. I come from a very large African musical family of dialis, which means `griot`, who are well known in Mandinka history. A griot is a storyteller in Western Africa who perpetuates the oral tradition and history of a village or family. (dictionary definition) I belong to the great line of Kouyate griots, descendants of Balla Fasseke Kouyate, the first Mandinka diali, who became the official griot in the service of the emperor Sundiata Keita. Legend has it that Sundiata's enemy, the king of Sosso, blacksmith Soumarou Kante, gave him the name Kouyate, which means "we share a secret". Being brought up in such a family of griots, I played the kora instinctively from an early age.

Music flowed naturally from my fingers and I was soon playing traditional tunes by ear. I was raised by my grandmother, from whom I acquired a great knowledge of songs based on traditional stories, the bedrock of my repertoire. Later on I fearlessly discarded these established forms and developed my own. As a musician I also broke new artistic ground by accompanying my fellow students' poetry recitals at the university of Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal. I became known as a griot artist by most of my teachers, who, after seeing some evidence of my abilities, gave me the opportunity to perform and to teach the kora in the West African Research Centre (WARC). Many of the American students they host in this centre are very interested in learning about and listening to this instrument belonging to West African culture. I am a member of a folkloric 8 piece band called Lily Group - comprising kora, balafon, keyboard, bass, electric guitar, drums, djembe and a dancer - who recently toured Sicily. In 2003 I made my first trip to the UK and performed solo (voice and kora) in a variety of community spaces - house concerts, mainly organised by Paul Chi of Healthy Concerts and also at a UNICEF charity event.

"Ranks with the very best music and performances in 10 years of healthy concerts. Instrument - 21 strings of the kora - and audience, tuned in to perfection." (Kadialy in South Kensington house concert 2003) Paul Chi "Kadialy Kouyate held his audience in rapt attention for the duration of his performance, demonstrating exceptional musical gifts - both with kora and voice - and a warmth and humanity that called to the very core of one's being." (Kadialy in Bishopstone house concert 2003) Paul Chi.

Appearances:

Kadialy Kouyate, Senegalese Kora, St Mary’s Church, June 19th