Mady Kouyate

Born in Dakar, Senegal, Mady Kouyate is a descendent of the Kouyate family of Dialolu, oral historians and musicians of Manding traditions that have honored West Africa for centuries, through their family tradition and artistry of music and verse that records the history of West African societies. Since adolescence, Mady Kouyate began the process of learning the tradition of his ancestral heritage, playing the 21-string kora. At the age of 16 he relocated to Bamako,Mali where he continued his study of kora music and the Diali (griot)tradition with virtuoso artist,Toumani Diabate. In 1993, he began his studies of music L?Institut National des Arts (National Institute of the Arts) in Bamako, Mali.

Under Diabate's tutoring, Mady Kouyate began his professional career at the age of 19, performing with Diabate and other great artists of the Diali tradition throughout West Africa in the countries of Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Cote d'Ivoire. Mady Kouyate made in his first international tour in 2000, performing in 15 states throughout the United States and since numerous appearances nationally and internationally. Mady Kouyate currently resides in Michigan with his wife and three children. Mady presently performs as a solo artist and with his ensemble, The Heat of Africa, as well as with the Kouyate Family, and the Manding Griot Ensemble.

Experience

2002

• Guest Artist - Like Water Drum & Dance Company, Chelsea,Michigan
• Guest Artist, Musician Global Village Band, 9-11 Concert
• Benefit for the World Trade Center Survivors

2001

• Solo Concert - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Musician with Manding Griot Ensemble, University of Maryland, College Park
• Performer with Diali Djimo Kouyate, University of Salisbury State University
• Guest Artist/Musician, Howard University, Dept. of
  Theater Arts - Dance Division Concert

2000

• Guest Artist, Dance Institute of Washington
  Kwanzaa Celebration, John F. Kennedy Center
  for the Performing Arts Musician with Les
  Ballet d'Afrique Noire; major performance
  include: Mandinka Epic, 2000, United States
  of America

1996-Present

• Musician with Toumani Disabate's Music
• Ensemble; major peformance include; National
  Presidential Palace, 1998, Bamako, Mali

1996-Present

• Musician for vocal artists: Mainouna Diabate, Fanta Sakho,
• Ousmane Sakho, Asa Kide, Nene Sarma, Mariam Dambele,
• Fatoumata Dambele, Guimba Dambele, and Aminata Kouyate

1996-2000

• National Traditional Ensemble of Mali; major
  performance include: TOGUNA II, Festival &
  Colloquium,1998, Bamako, Mali

1993-2000

• Institut National des Arts Music Ensemble; major
  performances include: National & Educational tour,
  1997, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso National Tours,

  1993-2000, Mali.

Education





1993-2000
Institut National des Arts; Music Education & Music Theory