Ousmane Kouyaté Ousmane Kouyaté

• 1. Kefimba (Edit)
• 2. N'Ny

Ousmane Kouyaté was a key figure in shaping the electric Mandingue sound, emerging from the rich storytelling tradition of West Africa's Griots. As a guitarist with Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako and later Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, he performed alongside icons like Mory Kanté and Kanté Manfila, and spent more than three decades as a core member of Salif Keita’s band.

In the early 1980s, Kouyaté began focusing on his own material, recording the tracks Kefi Mba and N'Ny at Abidjan’s JBZ Studio. Originally released on cassette, then issued on vinyl in 1982 and 1983, these two funk-tinged Mandingue treasures showcased his melodic instincts and masterful guitar work. Named after a black bull from his childhood, Kefi Mba is steeped in personal memory, while N'Ny leans into soulful groove and rhythmic finesse.