Music from Togo – Jey Liba

Jey – Liba is a duet of artists from Togo (BEN and BILL), two young modern griots who inspire from various traditions. They make us discover « Cool Catché », the new tendency making the Togolese people proud. To move forward and gain their place among African music leaders, the group has worked to become the best in their genre. « Cool Catché » simply means « cool » in the hood. Just like Coupé-Décalé, « Cool Catché » is a dance from Togo which is becoming as famous and as entertaining.  Here is their song “Coloniser”

 

 

Music from Guinea – Fodé Baro

Fodé Baro, is a Guinean musician performing Afro-Zouk and folk music. Born in a Fulani-Mandingo notable family of the city of Kankan, where many griots come from, Fodé Baro is the exception to the rule according which, only griots can make music in Guinea.
From his early childhood, Fodé Baro is enchanted by the talent of the one called “the dragon of African song” aka Aboubacar Demba Camara, outstanding guinean artist from the 70s. As a teenager, Fode excels in the artistic subjects such as theatre and music… and starts playing n’goni and guitar. But for his parents, a young man of his rank cannot tarnish with artists; it would be a humiliation for the family. Here is the song “Yanfante”

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Music from Burkina Faso/Belgium – Zita Swoon Group

The Zita Swoon Group, formed in 1993 in Belgium is a great indie band. In 2010 Stef Kamil Carlens and Zita Swoon Group traveled to Burkina Faso in West Africa to play and create with Mamadou Diabaté Kibié and Awa Demé, griots from Bobo-Dioulasso. Listen to their nice song “Tasuma-Ji”:

Music from Guinea-Conakry – Mory Kanté

Mory Kanté (born 29 March 1950, Kissidougou, Guinea) is a vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was born into one of Guinea’s best known families of griot (hereditary) musicians. After being brought up in the Mandinka griot tradition in Guinea, he was sent to Mali at the age of seven years – where he learned to play the kora, as well as important voice traditions, some of which are necessary to become a griot. Here is the song “Moko”

Music from Mali – Kandia Kouyaté

Kandia Kouyaté (also known as Kandja Kouyaté, born in 1959 in Kita, Mali) is a Malian jelimuso (a female griot) and kora player. Here is the song “Woulalé”

Music from Burkina Faso/Belgium – Zita Swoon Group

Zita Swoon Group, formed in 1993 in Belgium is a great indie band. In 2010 Stef Kamil Carlens and Zita Swoon Group travel to Burkina Faso in West Africa to play and create with Mamadou Diabaté Kibié and Awa Demé, griots from Bobo-Dioulasso(YouTube information) the nice song “Subabu“:

Music from Sweden/Senegal – Sousou & Maher

Sweden and Senegal collaborate in this song: Sousou Cissoko grew up in the southern parts of Sweden, and Maher Cissoko grew up in Senegal in a big griot family. Here’s their song “Jangfata feat. Timbuktu“: