Andra Kouyaté

Andra Kouyaté has created a new instrument; the bass n’goni, sort of an African contrabass. This invention has permitted him to develop a new way of playing, quite different from the more usual traditional ngoni. He is gifted with exceptional playing skills on both musical and rythmical level. Tapping deep into traditional manding sources he is a complete master on the n’goni, bass n’goni and the tama. Through his impressive creativity Andra Kouyaté shows us how traditional instruments can be used without any limitations in very different musical styles. His approach to music, his sensitivity and charism and also his power and playing technic make him a real virtuoso multi-instrumentalist. Andra Kouyaté hails from a musical griot family. He starts learning to play the n’goni from the age of seven with his father Moutapha Kouyaté at Garana (Mali). In 1989 he moves to Bamako, improving his playing with differnet groups like e.g. Badema National. In 1997 Andra integrates two groups, one of Fantani Touré, with whom he recorded the album “N’TIN NAARI” and subsequently toured, and the group of Rokia Traoré with whom he participated on three albums "MOUNEÏSSA", "WANITA" and "BOWMBOI" and toured internationally for eight years. During the same periode Andra Kouyaté also plays regularly with Toumani Diabaté and Ali Farka Touré. In 2005 Andra Kouyaté decides to create “NGONI BA” with his brother Bassekou Kouyaté. Together they record an album “SEGU BLUE” and go on a hugely succesful tour through Europe. In 2007, still on tour with Bassekou Kouyaté he participates on Habib Koité’s album “AFRIKI” and also on the album “RED EARTH” released by Dee Dee Bridgewater. Christophe Minck makes a succesful appeal on him for the album “KIRIKOU ET KARABA” under the direction of Michel Ocelot. And he also contributes to the album “SEYA” of Oumou Sangaré and “ALU MAYE” of Leni Stern. Next Andra Kouyaté, Andreas Fulgosi and Baba Konaté decide in 2007 to form a new group called RAAGA TRIO, which is a exciting meeting between traditional West African music and jazz. Andra'a wife singer Mah Bara Soumano released an album in Mali in 2008. Following the succes of Mah’s album “SABALI” in Mali and the many enthousiastic reactions at their performances together Mah Bara Soumano en Andra Kouyate are currently working at STUDIO MALI. They are set to release their 14 song album internationally under the name of 2Fanga (Fla Fanga in Bambara language which translates as “Power of Two”.

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