Bassekou Kouyate
The ngoni master — from Garana to the world's stages
Biography
Born on 7 August 1966 in Garana, Mali, Bassekou Kouyate is the undisputed master of the ngoni, the small traditional lute he electrified and took to the world's biggest stages with his band Ngoni Ba. His album “I Speak Fula” was Grammy-nominated and “Segu Blue” received a BBC award. With singer Amy Sacko, he released “Djudjon, L'Oiseau de Garana”, recorded in Garana and released on One World Records on 19 July 2024, with post-co-production by Carolina Vallejo.
The One World link
Bassekou Kouyate is a One World Records artist: the label released “Djudjon, L'Oiseau de Garana” (2024), his album with Amy Sacko.
Distinctions and benchmarks
“Djudjon, L'Oiseau de Garana” with Amy Sacko (One World Records, 2024) · “I Speak Fula” — Grammy Awards nomination · “Segu Blue” — BBC award · Founder of Ngoni Ba
Performing formats
- Concert — Ngoni Ba
- Duo — Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko