N'Faly Kouyate

N’Faly Kouyaté is a visionary Guinean musician and master of the kora, the 21-string West African harp-lute, carrying forward centuries of Manding griot tradition with modern flair. Born into Mali's prestigious Kouyaté griot family—keepers of oral history through music—he began performing at age 5 and later became a key member of the genre-blending Afro Celt Sound System. His solo work, like the vibrant *Kora Grooves From West Africa* collaboration with Dunyakan, weaves hypnotic kora patterns with danceable rhythms, while tracks such as *Mandela* and *Maloya* showcase his knack for merging ancestral sounds with contemporary activism. Based in Belgium, Kouyaté remains a cultural bridgebuilder, using his shimmering kora improvisations and soulful vocals to celebrate peace, unity, and the living legacy of West African storytelling.

Genres

Jazz

Afrobeat

Fusion Music

Traditional African

African Folk

Latest Release

Re-Génération: Part. 1

N'Faly Kouyate

Ep - 6 Tracks - Released May 17, 2024