Go Back
Kandia Kouyate
First Name: 
Last Name: 
Stage Name: 
Country: 
Born: 
Primary Language: 
Other Languages: 

Participations

10
Performer
10
Songwriter
Bio
Kandia Kouyaté (also known as Kandja Kouyaté, born in 1959 in Kita, Mali) is a Malian jelimuso (a female griot) and kora player; she has earned the prestigious title of ngara, and is sometimes called La dangereuse and La grande vedette malienne. Kouyaté's dense, emotional, hypnotic manner of singing and her lyrical talents have earned huge acclaim in Mali, though she remained relatively little known outside Africa, due to extremely limited availability of her recordings. Her home town of Kita is known for love songs, which form a large part of Kouyaté's repertoire. She also sings praise songs. Kouyaté's career began in the early 1980s, when she started using female choral vocals accompanying her. This practice was later picked up by stars like Mory Kante and Salif Keita, and is now an integral part of Malian music. In 1983, she recorded[2] two vinyl discs, Amary Daou présente Kandia Kouyaté and Kandja Kouyaté et L’Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali. Her debut solo album is Kita Kan.
Discography
Discography not yet available. Check later.
Label
Record Label associated with Kandia Kouyate - past and current.
    Similar Artists
    Dimi Mint Abba
    Dimi Mint AbbaMauritania |1958| Arabic
    Loula Bint Siddaty Ould Abba known professionally as Dimi Bint Abba was a well-known griot singer from Mauritania. Her musical career began at an early age but became professional in 1976 after she sang on radio. In 1992 she released her debut album "Moorish Music from Mauritania" in collaboration with her husband Khalifa Ould Eide. Following this she gained international recognition and went on tour around Europe, Africa, and Australia before her death in 2011 after a stage accident.
    Hukwe Zawose
    Hukwe ZawoseTanzania, United Republic of |940| Bantu
    Hukwe Ubi Zawose was a renowned Tanzanian Musician. He was a singer with an extraordinary voice, a performer, multi-instrumentalist, an educator, and promoter of the Tanzania's culture through music. Zawose was a self-taught musician. A skill he learnt and developed while herding the family's animals. He gained recognition in the music scene after he was invited to sing for the Tanzanian Prime Minister of that time, Julius Nyeyere, in the country's capital.
    Narambada
    NarambadaNigeria |1890| Hausa
    Ibrahim Narambada, with stage moniker Narambada, was an Hausa musician from Nigeria whose skilled learnt from his musician mother. Initially, he played the Noma genre and later became famous for his Gobir music. He gained recognition after performing his village's music at the palace of Sarkin Gobir of Isa (now Sokoto state), and continued to sing for Amadu Sarkin Gobir. Narambada's music was unique because he used words of wisdom and insight, which set him apart from other Hausa singers. His popularity extended beyond his city and throughout the Hausa region and beyond. Narambada passed away in 1963, leaving a legacy of being one of the greatest Hausa musicians.
    Johannes "Spokes" Mashiyane
    Johannes "Spokes" MashiyaneSouth Africa |1933| English
    Johannes "Spokes" Mashiyane was a renowned pennywhistle artist from the 1950s-1970s. He blended and bent notes with the instrument's simplicity, gaining international recognition in the 1960s. He played with Bud Shank, performed at the Newport Folk Festival, and influenced the music of Zimbabwe. In 1989, the South African band Mango Groove released Special Star as a tribute to him after his passing to liver disease in 1972.
    Timi Martins
    Timi MartinsNigeria |1999| English
    Timi Martins, also known as Rotimi Martins, is a talented singer-songwriter who recently rose to fame in 2022 with his hit single "Take All My Money." Despite his background in the church choir, he only fully dedicated himself to his music career in 2019. Timi Martins is now signed with MixNaija Entertainment and is a rising star in the industry to keep an eye on.
    Abdullah Ibrahim Fka Dollar Brand
    Abdullah Ibrahim Fka Dollar BrandSouth Africa |1934| English
    Abdullah Ibrahim, born Adolph Johannes Brand, is a highly esteemed South African pianist, composer, and bandleader. He began playing piano at the age of seven and made his professional debut at the age of fifteen, quickly becoming one of the leading jazz musicians in South Africa. His career saw collaborations with notable musicians, including the Jazz Epistles, and later, international recognition. In 1965, he moved to New York, where he performed at prestigious venues and became deeply engaged with the global jazz community. In 1990, Mandela invited him back to South Africa, marking a significant return. Ibrahim's illustrious career includes collaborations, film scores, documentaries, and many recognition and awards. He continues to tour, educate, and innovate in music, leaving an enduring legacy.