Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko

Malian griot, or a traditional musician and storyteller, Bassekou Kouyate is a true master of the ngoni (a traditional West African long-necked spit lute) and is considered an important modernizer of West African griot music. Kouyate amplifies his instrument electronically, uses effects devices, and adds elements of melancholic blues and rock to the traditional sounds of his homeland. The result is a fusion that is often called the “desert” or “Mali blues” which helped him achieve an international breakthrough after musicians like Mdou Moctar and Tinariwen. He has played with greats like Paul McCartney and was nominated for a Grammy for his second album “I Speak Fula.” As part of Culturescapes 2023 Sahara, Bassekou Kouyate, accompanied by his wife, singer Amy Sacko, presents a chamber music evening in which he reinterprets the music of his parents. Website Tip: The film "Mail Blues" on November 9 and 10 at the neues kino is about the music and history of Bassekou Kouyate, among others.