Mory Kanté
Page of Tribute — Mory Kanté (1950–2020), the electric griot: "Yéké Yéké", the electrified kora and a life as ambassador of Guinean music. Page preserved by Festival TV in tribute to his work and his legacy.
Tribute page. Mory Kanté left us on May 22, 2020, in Conakry. Festival TV keeps this page in tribute to his immense work and legacy: "Yéké Yéké", the first African single sold to more than one million copies, the electric kora he has worn on the largest scenes in the world, and a lifetime of ambassador of Guinean and mandingue music.
Biographie
Born into one of the great families of mandingues griots — his grandmother gave his name to the boarding school that will become the Conservatoire de Conakry — Mory Kanté learned very young the balafon, guitar and then the kora, which he electrified. After the Rail Band of Bamako, he launched his solo career: in 1987, "Yé Ké Yé Ké" became the first African single sold with more than a million copies and a planetary tube. He carried the kora on the largest scenes in the world until his death in 2020.
Distinctions and benchmarks
"Yé Ké Yé Ké" (1987): first African single sold with more than 1 million copies, n° 1 in several European countries in 1988 · Former singer of the Rail Band of Bamako · FAO Goodwill Ambassador (2001)
See also
Performing formats
- Tribute / retrospective — orchestra and guests
- Heritage programming — world music