Balla Kouyate West African Music Balafon

HOME	KOUYATE FAMILY	SHOWS	NEWS	COLLABORATIONS	CONTACT

A Family of Djelis

Kouyaté sama gera, Djeli man Kouyate bo
(There is no Djeli like Kouyaté)

-from Kouyaté Fasa (Hommage to Kouyatés)

Balla's parents, El Hadji Sekou Kouyate and Hadja Djessira Diawara

The Kouyate clan is recognized as the first Djeli family. In the African tradition, the Djeli (also Griot) embodies the culture of his people. The Djeli is a historian, musician , dancer and performer who has the task of reminding the community of its traditional greatness, and of the accomplishments of those who have come before. The word djeli is often interchanged with the word jali, which means blood in the Mandinka language and refers to the fundamental role they play in society.

Through the traditions of classical art, music, and dance, the great achievements of the Ancestors are recounted. Through their contemporary music and dance, the Djelis honor the contributions of those now with us. Their work is comprehensive and never ending. They effectively use the performing arts to teach values and history

La Famille Dokkala
Famille Dokkala Kouyate
Fantamadi, Kaniba Oule, Djelimory, Djankine and Balla Kouyate (1991)

Balla's family keeps this tradition very much alive even to this day. A family of musicians and singers, they take their role in society very seriously. Brother Djankine and sister Kaniba Oule have enjoyed popularity as singers in Mali and Guinea. They both performed at recent concerts celebrating Mali's 50th anniversary of independence and have released albums in the last few years. Brother Fantamadi Kouyate has been playing lead guitar for Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra, for the last six years and has toured the world and recorded for the kora star.

The Story of the Balafon

Balla's instrument, the balafon, is a West African ancestor of the marimba and xylophone. In the 1200s, the first balafon, known as the Sosso Bala, belonged to the great king Sumanguru Kanté, who found it or, some say, was given it by a djinn. Later, the instrument was given to Sundiata Keita's Djeli, Balla Faséké Kouyaté, who was living at the time in Sumanguru's custody.

Eventually King Sumanguru was defeated in battle by Sundiata Keita, founder of the Empire of Mali, and Balla Faséké returned to spend the rest of his life by his King's side as his Djeli. Since then, Balla Faséké’s descendants, the Dokkala Kouyaté family, have taken care of the Sosso Bala. Today, the instrument is kept in the town of Niagassola in eastern Guinea, less than 20 miles from the Malian border. Balla's father is the Sosso Balatigui, or guardian, of this ancient instrument. In 2001 UNESCO recognized it as one of the 19 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Alhaji Filanin Sekou Kouyate Balla's father is his first teacher. He is also the Balatigui (guardian) of the Sosso Bala
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Click on the images (under construction)

Djankine	Kaniba Oule	Fantamadi