Sory Kandia Kouyaté
"The golden voice of Manding" — Master griot · singer · composer · kora player (1937–1977)
Biographie
Born in 1937 in Peulh, son of a renowned grieving mandating mandating, Sory Kandia Kouyaté descended to Conakry at sixteen years old to learn the profession of griot and revive the mandingue heritage. His powerful voice and his mastery of the kora made him the voice of Guinea of Sékou Touré: he performed in 1958 before the United Nations, in Europe and the USSR, and then as cultural ambassador of his country. He died in 1977, at forty years old, in full glory.
Distinctions and benchmarks
Voice of the Guinean Revolution · Represented Guinea at the United Nations and around the world · Participation in FESTAC 77 (Lagos) · Descendant of Balla Fasseké Kouyaté, griot de Soundiata Keïta
See also
- Archive Audio — "Tara", excerpt from the album "L'épopée du Mandingue" (Syllart Records), on YouTube
Performing formats
- Tribute / heritage — griotic directory
- Exhibition-concert — Mandingue history