P R E S S - B O O K

N ' FA LY K O U YAT É

T H E A R T I S T

B I O E X P R E S SDue to his dexterity and elegance in impassioned playing of the kora, N’Faly Kouyaté became known as the „Jimi Hendrix of the kora”.

In addition to various projects and solo performances, he became a member of Peter Gabriel´s group Afro Celt Sound System and the Leader of his own band Dunyakan. Already in 1999, his projects achieved a Golden Record and in 1999 and 2001 they were even nominated for the Grammy Award.

In 2011, he won the 'Guinée Music Award', was nominated for the 'Octaves de la Musique 2012' in Belgium, one of the winners of 'Le Rêve Africain' in Paris 2011 ...

Now, Kouyaté released the album CHANGE and prepares a world tour on the occasion of his 20th anniversary of international career in 2016.

O N S TA G E

J AY C H I T U L A

M U R I E L F I N E T K O U YAT É

J U L I E N B O S U M A

D I D I E R L I K E N G

T H E B A N D

• Lead vocal, kora - N'Faly Kouyaté

• Hybrid Drums - Jay Chitula

• Keyboards, Vocals - Julien Bosuma

• Hybrid Percussion, Vocals - Muriel Finet Kouyaté

• Bass, Vocals - Didier Likeng

• Urban Contemporary Gospel Singers

• Afrotronix Street DancersA N N I E

B R O S T E A U

D A N C E R S

A F U L L C O N C E P TChange - The Show

M O R E I N F O A B O U T N ' FA LY K O U YAT É

  «  I’m tired of everything that’s going on in the world these days. There are people who are struggling, in really tough situations. Then there are those who use force, power, glory, position or rank to harm others with impunity. We have to put an end to this. I sing for the whole world, to let people know that together we can stop this disaster! »

N'Faly Kouyaté is a multi-talented artist! After his forays into the world of Afro pop (TUNYA) and of classical music with KORA STRINGS, he has branched out into a new style called AFROTRONIX. This style is deeply rooted in African music and draws on polyphony and electronic music to encourage us to dance, travel, relax, but also to reflect.

CHANGE is an album of commitment. N’Faly’s music invites us to dance, but the lyrics are far from frivolous, addressing subjects such as AIDS, the sale of arms, abuse of power and the change that each of us needs to make in our lives. The pieces on this album are heterogeneous and demonstrate N’Faly’s skill. Let yourself be captured by his soft voice as he draws you into his new musical universe.

His extraordinary talent, his virtuosity on the kora and his varied vocal register give his compositions and arrangements wings.

The result: his 5th album CHANGE, which further reinforces his commitment to his role as ambassador for intercultural dialogue in Belgium.

This new album in which N’Faly links tradition and modernity in a brilliant manner once again brilliantly demonstrates this musicians creativity.

On it, N’Faly Kouyate is accompanied by the “URBAN CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL SINGERS” who groove along with polyrhythmics and harmonies.

The album features a wide variety of instruments: kora, balafon, guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser, keyboard, African percussion (djembé, doundouns, krin, calabash, ...).

The texts are sung in French, English, Malinké, Soussou and Poular.

C H A N G E - T H E A L B U MDOMINIMBA

In this song N'Faly condemns abuse of power: politicians who use their office to line their pockets, but also those who use their strength to dominate others.

MEYA

This is a real dance-song. A young girl w a n t s t o g o o u t d a n c i n g b u t h e r b o y f r i e n d d o e s n ’ t agree. In the end she leaves and goes to a big dance evening!

!

DJOUGOUYANGOUYA

Inspires by the tale of t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between a grandson and his grandmother.

KOBEBADA

W e e a c h h a v e problems and worries in our lives. Washing our laundry in public does nothing to help. Let’s all try to find amicable solutions so that life can be better for all of us.

!!!

DJONSANLON

This instrumental piece shows us another side to the Madingo “king kora”  as it is drawn in the direction of the electric guitar. Here a c o u s t i c ko ra a n d electric kora with pedal c o m e t o g e t h e r t o c r e a t e a m o d e r n masterpiece.

DININFIN

S o n g p ra i s i n g t h e beauty of black women of different ethnicities from Guinea-Conakry. 

!!

TUNYA

A s p e r i t ’ s t i t l e , meaning “Truth”, this song explains that whatever the problem, the solution will come through speaking the truth.

HEROES

This is a song about human rights as we are all equal and all owners of our planet. No-one has the right to end anyone’s life for any reason. We pay tribute to all those who have lost their life whilst defending others.

CHANGE

We all need change today. But above all, change must start with each one of us: with a desire to make changes to personal situations, work – our day to day life.

There are so many countries where people are crying out for revolution. But each of us needs to have his own revolution, change his own life, maybe by being more aware of the consequences of his and other people’s actions on the planet, or by seeking to be less self-centred...

FONIKE

A song to encourage the youth: make the most of your youth to have fun and dress as you like but remember to put yourself on the road to success since tomorrow you’ll be called upon to be an adult.

PARADISE

This song talk of the migration of humans on earth. We always think that the grass is greener on the other side. Humans are always seeking out happiness. Others dream that their heaven is on the other side of the world without realising that it is where safety, work and love are – in short, where happiness is.

HOPE

AIDS is still around, be careful! But there is hope for a cure, thank you to the researchers for the progress made in this field.

VENTE D'ARMES

We all know that man has become a hunter of men. Some people choose to make money off the back of other people’s suffering. “Whether you use or sell arms, you are all assassins”. We want an end to the blood-bath. Stop! N’Faly’s most fervent wish is that these places which produce weapons of mass destruction be transformed into places that make tools to improve the quality of human life.

PAROLE

“If you know that your silence will do less harm than your words, then it is better to be quiet”

This song talks about the importance of words and the damage they can cause depending on how they are delivered. Words are a tool that it is important to know how to use.

N ' FA LY K O U YAT É

« Je profite de la modernité pour remorquer la tradition. »

B O O K I N G N A M U N G R O U P !

C O N TA C T @ N A M U N G R O U P. C O M