Friday, November 29, the Café Concert de la Bellevilloise vibrated to the rhythm of the captivating melodies of Ousmane Kouyaté. Grandson of legendary kora virtuosos Mbady Kouyaté and Soundioulou Cissokho, Ousmane Kalil Kouyaté, aka Ousmane Koraman, offered an unforgettable live performance.
Coming from a large family of djélis (griots) from Guinea and Senegal, Ousmane Kouyaté is nicknamed the “Prince of Kora”. With his musicians, he develops a unique Afro-jazz fusion, drawn from Mandinka music and tinged with pop, funk, soul, blues and rock flavors. His songs in Malinké, Soussou and Peul transported the audience on a rich and diverse musical journey.
In parallel with his own projects, Ousmane Kouyaté also accompanies renowned musicians with varied musical influences, such as Hélène Ségara, Blitz the Ambassador, Lëk Sèn, Saïko Nata, Soul Bang’s, Blade MC and Stefan Filey, as well as William Baldé. His versatility and talent were once again highlighted during this memorable concert.
The Bellevilloise audience was won over by the mastery of Ousmane Kouyaté and his musicians, offering a musical evening of rare intensity. This live concert was a true celebration of the cultural and musical richness of West Africa, marking the minds and hearts of all the spectators present.
Firmin Koto
