Afric music Mali Music - Kandia Kouyate, Rokia Traore, Djeneba Seck, Amadou & Mariam, Habib Koite, Oumou Sangare

April 05, 2004

KANDIA KOUYATE, PROFESSIONAL SINGER
The legend of a fairy of Kita

Adulated anywhere she passes, queen in her country, fairy in Kita (her birthplace), Kandia Kouyaté is today a charismatic professional singer who cultivates discretion, humility and generosity. Whether one likes or not, nobody can be indifferent. The Mag tries today to raise a corner of the veil on the legend of a Fairy of Kita Kuru.
Djéli Kandia Kouyaté was born in Kita at the eve of the African independences. Kita, the capital of peanut, is located at 250 Kilometres of Bamako, into the centre of Mande. In the locality like everywhere in Mande, Djélis are guardians of the tradition, historians, teachers, journalists, mediators, comunicators…
Long before the birth of Kandia, a soothsayer had predicted to her father Bourama Kouyaté, a virtuoso of the balafon in his region, that one of his children would meet a resounding success throughout the world. Although our Djéli Kandia had all the predicted signs, her father had other projects for her. That’s how the young Kandia, despite her exceptional talent of vocalist (djélimuso), is sent to French school. In parallel of her studies that she followed at the catholic mission, the child of Biriko did not hesitate to put forward her talent of artist each time her father played the balafon. A mythical instrument inherited of Soumangourou Kanté, king of Sosso.
At the end of eight years of schooling, Djéli Kandia makes the resolution give up school to face the family charges. Sick, her father could not face this social obligation any more. She leaves her native Kita to settle in the capital where the Rail Band of the “Buffet Hotel” of the station, the "Ambassadeurs" of the Motel, the National Badema dictated their laws and where the influence of the Guinean music was more and more important. Our Djéli integrates one of the groups "Apollo" (transposition of the folk music on the modern instruments). This group directed by her uncle Mady Sylla Kouyaté, will know a frank success in Bamako because it was very coveted for the ceremonies of baptism, marriage and associative festivals.
Happiness never comes alone, at eighteen years old, Kandia marry with a griot coming from Kayes. This marriage puts a flat to her career within this group "Apollo" because she is obliged to settle in the capital of the rail. There, under the cane of her mother-in-law, she acquires the secrecies of Djéliya and learns a lot of songs.
Kandia records her first album in Abidjan at the end of the Seventies. And it’s only a few years later that the national radio begins the diffusion of this album produced without real financial repercussions for her who was unaware of all the things of the show biz. "It’s by a fortunate coincidence that I heard on the radio one of my songs. At that time, the only thing which counted for us was to see oneself on a small pocket of cassette or heard oneself on the radio". Unfortunately, on the small pocket of this first album, the photograph of Kandia will not appear so that the music lovers wondered "Who is well this Kandia Kouyaté? ". She will all the same answer the various requests of her compatriots in Mali as well as abroad.
In 1983, Kandia records her second album in Abidjan, an album wonderfully arranged by Boncana Maïga and entirely financed by a patron of the Malian music, late Amary Daou. The success is crushing! In the African western under-area, the sales exceed all the forecasts.
In 1987, she records her third album, "Projet Dabia", in the studios of the ORTM (Radio Mali), an album in homage to legendary generosity of the rich Babani Sissoko. Between 1988 and 1994, the Fairy of Kita Kuru and her ensemble undertake a tour throughout the world. On their return, Djéli Kandia records her fourth album, “Sa Kunu Sa ", an auto production.
In spite of her legendary notoriety in Mali and abroad, Kandia Kouyaté remains a enigma. Since her first album, she has categorically refused all the offers of production and fight against piracy "Where is the need to commit oneself in a contract of production when one has protective rich person who offers you houses, cars, travels in Mecca… "
In 1996, she takes part in the album of the Guinean Sékouba Bambino Diabaté by honesty for this last. Her incorruptible voice, her control of the Mandingo repertory and especially her beautiful vocal techniques, seduced Ibrahima Sylla, the owner of the label Syllart production and Africando. This promising partnership generates "Woulalé", "Kita kan" and "Biriko". These albums caused the catch in the international career of Djéli Kandia because she’s from now on requested everywhere. With this international recognition, she takes part in prestigious festivals in Europe as well as in America.
And it is with a contagious enthusiasm that Kandia joined to her brothers and sisters on the Mandekalou album which has just been published (March 25, 2004). A common project of the celebrities of the Mandingo music who agreed to put themselves together to make a panoramic album under the crook of Syllart Production. "I wanted to realise this project since more than a decade, it’s just now that I have the opportunity to carry it out with the tenors of the Mandingo music. It can be explained by the simple fact that each one of them has his own program of tour. It was consequently difficult to find a date for the repetitions and the studio. Now, it is also necessary to ensure the promotion of this album ", explains Mr. Ibrahima Sylla.
In any case, it is a plus for the Fairy of Kita Kuru who’s now a charismatic professional singer and a great star of the Malian music even of African music. The many distinctions received during her career testify it. Indeed, very committed for the defence of the women's rights and of the Child, Kandia is Chevalier of the national Order of Mali, without forgetting the many other distinctions which she received in Mali and outside. Modest, humble and generous, Kandia fights today for the schooling of the girls in Mali and in Africa of which she is one of the best ambassadresses.
And besides her song "Kalan" (education or teaching) became since then the anthem of this combat. "I was not likely to go far in the studies, but I nevertheless was provided education by my father who was conscious of the advantages of this initiative. I regret today not having gone far in the studies and I would fight so that all the girls are likely to go one day to school to contribute to the blooming of her family, her community and her country ", she said to us during one of our meetings. A noble engagement for a star who is very adulated elsewhere and queen in her country.
The editorial staff

Rokia awarded a price in the United Kingdom
"Bomboï" or "Bowmboï"! It is according to whether one is in Mali or in Europe. We’re speaking of the third album of Rokia Traoré, the star of Bélédougou; An opus which already brings her many honours. Indeed, this fantastic work has just been awarded a price in the United Kingdom. Last 9 March, Bowmboï was designated album of the year by the BBC World music Awards; one of the greatest and prestigious musical rewards of the world.
A distinction which does not surprise, because the success Bowmboï met since its release already predicted it. Indeed, the opus was sold at 70 000 specimens in France and 40 000 in the rest of Europe, and that in three months only. The so much coveted CD of the Rose of Bélédougou, presently on tour in France, is impatiently awaited in the United States, in Japan, in south Africa…
Bowmboï won the "star with shaven skull" the favours of criticisms; therefore the "Page One" of the specialized press in Occident. And as "Monde2" wrote it in its delivery of March, "the singer conquered criticisms and seduced various people, White and Black, amateurs of folk and music of the world". Bowmboï finally succeeded to place Rokia Traoré on the springboard of the realization of what has always been her ambition: a recognized and respected star! In any case, the Parisian subways already announce the color through the posters in natural size, the next apparition of the lady of Bélédougou in the Olympia of Paris. A complete concert will take place on March 7, 2005.

In studio
Djénèba Seck after having gone to Bamako to the bedside of her sick mother, set out again for Paris to end the recording of her next album. This album, produced by Syllart Production promises a lot.

Amadou and Mariam
Amadou and Mariam, tiè ni mousso (husband and wife) flew away for France in order to finish the project of creation which they have in common with the superstar of the Spanish music Manu Chao.

Habib Koité
Habib Koité and the group Bamada returned last Sunday from Lyon to Bamako. In lyon, they animated the last concert of their tour which lasted three months. We will speak about that in the next edition.

Oumou Sangaré
Oumou Sangaré also returned to the fold on last 28 March. The Diva of Wassoulou had remained in Paris to rest after her European and Australian tour.


April 05, 2004 KANDIA KOUYATE, PROFESSIONAL SINGER The legend of a fairy of Kita Adulated anywhere she passes, queen in her country, fairy in Kita (her birthplace), Kandia Kouyaté is today a charismatic professional singer who cultivates discretion, humility and generosity. Whether one likes or not, nobody can be indifferent. The Mag tries today to raise a corner of the veil on the legend of a Fairy of Kita Kuru. Djéli Kandia Kouyaté was born in Kita at the eve of the African independences. Kita, the capital of peanut, is located at 250 Kilometres of Bamako, into the centre of Mande. In the locality like everywhere in Mande, Djélis are guardians of the tradition, historians, teachers, journalists, mediators, comunicators… Long before the birth of Kandia, a soothsayer had predicted to her father Bourama Kouyaté, a virtuoso of the balafon in his region, that one of his children would meet a resounding success throughout the world. Although our Djéli Kandia had all the predicted signs, her father had other projects for her. That’s how the young Kandia, despite her exceptional talent of vocalist (djélimuso), is sent to French school. In parallel of her studies that she followed at the catholic mission, the child of Biriko did not hesitate to put forward her talent of artist each time her father played the balafon. A mythical instrument inherited of Soumangourou Kanté, king of Sosso. At the end of eight years of schooling, Djéli Kandia makes the resolution give up school to face the family charges. Sick, her father could not face this social obligation any more. She leaves her native Kita to settle in the capital where the Rail Band of the “Buffet Hotel” of the station, the "Ambassadeurs" of the Motel, the National Badema dictated their laws and where the influence of the Guinean music was more and more important. Our Djéli integrates one of the groups "Apollo" (transposition of the folk music on the modern instruments). This group directed by her uncle Mady Sylla Kouyaté, will know a frank success in Bamako because it was very coveted for the ceremonies of baptism, marriage and associative festivals. Happiness never comes alone, at eighteen years old, Kandia marry with a griot coming from Kayes. This marriage puts a flat to her career within this group "Apollo" because she is obliged to settle in the capital of the rail. There, under the cane of her mother-in-law, she acquires the secrecies of Djéliya and learns a lot of songs. Kandia records her first album in Abidjan at the end of the Seventies. And it’s only a few years later that the national radio begins the diffusion of this album produced without real financial repercussions for her who was unaware of all the things of the show biz. "It’s by a fortunate coincidence that I heard on the radio one of my songs. At that time, the only thing which counted for us was to see oneself on a small pocket of cassette or heard oneself on the radio". Unfortunately, on the small pocket of this first album, the photograph of Kandia will not appear so that the music lovers wondered "Who is well this Kandia Kouyaté? ". She will all the same answer the various requests of her compatriots in Mali as well as abroad. In 1983, Kandia records her second album in Abidjan, an album wonderfully arranged by Boncana Maïga and entirely financed by a patron of the Malian music, late Amary Daou. The success is crushing! In the African western under-area, the sales exceed all the forecasts. In 1987, she records her third album, "Projet Dabia", in the studios of the ORTM (Radio Mali), an album in homage to legendary generosity of the rich Babani Sissoko. Between 1988 and 1994, the Fairy of Kita Kuru and her ensemble undertake a tour throughout the world. On their return, Djéli Kandia records her fourth album, “Sa Kunu Sa ", an auto production. In spite of her legendary notoriety in Mali and abroad, Kandia Kouyaté remains a enigma. Since her first album, she has categorically refused all the offers of production and fight against piracy "Where is the need to commit oneself in a contract of production when one has protective rich person who offers you houses, cars, travels in Mecca… " In 1996, she takes part in the album of the Guinean Sékouba Bambino Diabaté by honesty for this last. Her incorruptible voice, her control of the Mandingo repertory and especially her beautiful vocal techniques, seduced Ibrahima Sylla, the owner of the label Syllart production and Africando. This promising partnership generates "Woulalé", "Kita kan" and "Biriko". These albums caused the catch in the international career of Djéli Kandia because she’s from now on requested everywhere. With this international recognition, she takes part in prestigious festivals in Europe as well as in America. And it is with a contagious enthusiasm that Kandia joined to her brothers and sisters on the Mandekalou album which has just been published (March 25, 2004). A common project of the celebrities of the Mandingo music who agreed to put themselves together to make a panoramic album under the crook of Syllart Production. "I wanted to realise this project since more than a decade, it’s just now that I have the opportunity to carry it out with the tenors of the Mandingo music. It can be explained by the simple fact that each one of them has his own program of tour. It was consequently difficult to find a date for the repetitions and the studio. Now, it is also necessary to ensure the promotion of this album ", explains Mr. Ibrahima Sylla. In any case, it is a plus for the Fairy of Kita Kuru who’s now a charismatic professional singer and a great star of the Malian music even of African music. The many distinctions received during her career testify it. Indeed, very committed for the defence of the women's rights and of the Child, Kandia is Chevalier of the national Order of Mali, without forgetting the many other distinctions which she received in Mali and outside. Modest, humble and generous, Kandia fights today for the schooling of the girls in Mali and in Africa of which she is one of the best ambassadresses. And besides her song "Kalan" (education or teaching) became since then the anthem of this combat. "I was not likely to go far in the studies, but I nevertheless was provided education by my father who was conscious of the advantages of this initiative. I regret today not having gone far in the studies and I would fight so that all the girls are likely to go one day to school to contribute to the blooming of her family, her community and her country ", she said to us during one of our meetings. A noble engagement for a star who is very adulated elsewhere and queen in her country. The editorial staff Rokia awarded a price in the United Kingdom "Bomboï" or "Bowmboï"! It is according to whether one is in Mali or in Europe. We’re speaking of the third album of Rokia Traoré, the star of Bélédougou; An opus which already brings her many honours. Indeed, this fantastic work has just been awarded a price in the United Kingdom. Last 9 March, Bowmboï was designated album of the year by the BBC World music Awards; one of the greatest and prestigious musical rewards of the world. A distinction which does not surprise, because the success Bowmboï met since its release already predicted it. Indeed, the opus was sold at 70 000 specimens in France and 40 000 in the rest of Europe, and that in three months only. The so much coveted CD of the Rose of Bélédougou, presently on tour in France, is impatiently awaited in the United States, in Japan, in south Africa… Bowmboï won the "star with shaven skull" the favours of criticisms; therefore the "Page One" of the specialized press in Occident. And as "Monde2" wrote it in its delivery of March, "the singer conquered criticisms and seduced various people, White and Black, amateurs of folk and music of the world". Bowmboï finally succeeded to place Rokia Traoré on the springboard of the realization of what has always been her ambition: a recognized and respected star! In any case, the Parisian subways already announce the color through the posters in natural size, the next apparition of the lady of Bélédougou in the Olympia of Paris. A complete concert will take place on March 7, 2005. In studio Djénèba Seck after having gone to Bamako to the bedside of her sick mother, set out again for Paris to end the recording of her next album. This album, produced by Syllart Production promises a lot. Amadou and Mariam Amadou and Mariam, tiè ni mousso (husband and wife) flew away for France in order to finish the project of creation which they have in common with the superstar of the Spanish music Manu Chao. Habib Koité Habib Koité and the group Bamada returned last Sunday from Lyon to Bamako. In lyon, they animated the last concert of their tour which lasted three months. We will speak about that in the next edition. Oumou Sangaré Oumou Sangaré also returned to the fold on last 28 March. The Diva of Wassoulou had remained in Paris to rest after her European and Australian tour.