Ousmane Kouyaté - Ousmane Kouyaté (Analog Africa Limited Dance Edition No.18)

Ousmane Kouyaté

Analog Africa Limited Dance Edition No.18

12” VINYL Limited Edition 180g - Comes with a Silk-Screen printed cover and a Pink colored vinyl

Born in 1952 in Dabola, Guinea, Ousmane was heir to the tradition of the Griots, the storytellers, poets and musicians who had served for centuries as the guardians of West African cultural heritage. He picked up the guitar and balafon in his early years and formed a youth band in his teens, but it was while studying agriculture at Kankan University that he decided to devote his life to music.

He moved to Bamako where he soon fell in with Mory Kanté and Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako, who were busy forging a modern Mandingue sound. He performed occasionally with the band and, when they finally broke up in 1977, he was asked to join guitarist Kanté Manfila and singer Salif Keita in a new venture. The newly-formed Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux relocated to Abidjan, where they came to the attention of legendary Beninese producer Badmos. Their electrifying first album, released in 1978, made them stars throughout West Africa.

After a few years of touring, Ousmane decided to focus on his own compositions and went to the esteemed JBZ Recording Studio in Abidjan. Accompanied by his fellow musicians from Les Ambassadeurs, Ousmane recorded “Kefimba” – named after the all-black bull from his childhood with whom he had shared his Manioc meals – and “N’Ny”; both were released initially on cassette before making their way to vinyl in 1982 and 1983.