Mory Kanté

Mory Kanté is a legend. He first got noticed in Africa during the 70s before topping the charts in the 80s and riding on the 90s new found interest in African music. Ten years later, he returned to his native Guinea, becoming part of the local economic drive of his country and an inspirational figure for his fellow citizens.
Mory Kanté was born in 1950 in the village of Albadariya in the region of Kissidougou in Guinea. "I am a griot, son of griot, hailing from the Mande family”, he says proudly about a family whose history dates back to the first days of the Manding dynasty, this immense Empire that has set its political and cultural domination over West Africa since the 13th century. Mory Kante is a griot on both sides of his heritage, his father (El Hadj Djelifode) was a Kanté, his mother (Fatoumata) was a Kamisoko.
Last born in a family of 38 children, he went on to study in Bamako, Mali, and quickly got involved with the Apollos, a local band already using traditional instruments (Balafon, Ngoni) along with Western ones. However, his real breakthrough came with the Rail Band from Bamako; where from 1971 he would share the stage with the likes of Salif Keita or the virtuoso guitarist Djelimady Tounkara. Over the years he has played several instruments, such as the balafon, the guitar, the drums and even started singing..."I played everywhere but the brass section, I was an all-rounder". He also learned how to play the Manding 21-chord-harp and the kora under the guidance of griot master Batrou Sekou Diabaté. He would later become the first to plug the Kora and use it as an electronic instrument in a contemporary band.

"Yeke Yeke", adapted from a traditional festive dance, was the tipping point in Mory Kanté's career, the moment when he went solo in 1984. The song has benefited from a neat dance pop production, a full blown brass section, electric Kora notes and Mory Kanté's sharp and uplifting voice which carried the song all around the world, becoming a multi-million selling hit that is still played today.

With "La guinéenne" his 11th album, Mory Kanté, returns to the big band ensemble, his most emblematic set up. "La guinéenne" is all about optimism and traditions in the face of modern times. It is also a love testimonial to Africa and Guinea, paying homage to women all around the world who "have fed, brought up, served, cared for and educated all of us".

Mory Kante is an ambassador to the UN for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and takes part in the UNESCO initiatives to help refugees, stop the practice of excision or bring awareness of deforestation.