"N'DARILA" - Kankou Kouyaté et Les Etoiles de Garaná

• artist:Kankou Kouyaté et Les Etoiles de Garaná
• featured artist:KANKOU KOUYATE
• release year:2025
• style(s):Afro, Manding
• country:Mali
• formats:Audio File / Digital, CD (Compact Disc)
• record posted by:One World
• label:One World
• publisher:One World
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KANKOU KOUYATE “N’Darila”
Kankou Kouyate is the niece of the N’Goni genius Bassekou Kouyate. One of the most respected Griot
families in Mali; growing up surrounded with music, descendent from generations of the finest N’goni
players in the country, she became the music student of her uncle Cheick Oumar Diabaté at the age of
ten. Kankou has worked with giants like Toumani Diabate, Madou Diabate, Bassekou Kouyate, Cheick
Tidianne Seck, Salif Keita, Habib Koite, Vieux Farka Touré… She was backing many famous Malian Griots,
and she has often been singing at weddings with her mother. In 2013, she worked with Damon Albarn,
Brian Eno and the collective Africa Express, and took part in the album “Maison des Jeunes”, which had
worldwide success. In 2019, she recorded the album “Kuma” with Mark Mulholland, praised world wide:
“terrific afro-pop album” wrote Songlines, for instance. As studio vocalist she has been singing on more
than hundred albums and singles, for instance on the Dutch bass-player Teun Creemers’ beautiful album
“Naamu” from 2023.
With “N’Darila”, her first solo album, Kankou goes back to her roots. Kankou’s texts are philosophical in
the Manding tradition, where she interprets her social surroundings and society. She speaks about
woman’s rights and good behaviour towards your fellow humans.
Producer and label owner Carolina Vallejo went to Bamako to form Kankou’s group Les Etoiles de Garana,
in order to record the album with cousins and far cousins of the Kouyate family. Kankou grew up with the
N'goni Bass player Madou Kouyate, son of the famous Bassekou, and Lassine Kouyate who is the
percussionist of the legendary guitarist Baba Salah. N’Goni player Kandiafa was always around in their
childhood. The drummer and percussionist Legre Thibaut Sery is from the Ivory Coast, but migrated to
Mali years ago, touring with Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré, Vieux Farka Touré… Along with the guests
Bassekou Kouyate and the Guinean Kora player Sefoudi Kouyate, they bring a contemporary and
authentic groove to the traditions they grew up with. The album was recorded during three days in
Bamako, and mostly created in the moment. Carolina Vallejo and Madou Kouyate had a common vision to
use acoustic traditional and natural instruments, in order to bring out Kankou’s unique voice to the full,
with her moral messages, full of natural wisdom from the Malian earth and spirits.
Music ©by Kankou Kouyate & Madou Kouyate. (*)(Except Deni Koungo & Doke Music ©by Kankou
Kouyate & Mark Mulholland). All texts by Kankou Kouyate Arranged by Madou Kouyate. Produced by
Carolina Vallejo Recorded by Madou Kouyate at MBK Studio Bamako, Mali 2024. Recording Engineers
Madou Kouyate & Charles Coulibaly. Edition & Post Production Carolina Vallejo. Mastered by Tom
Leader. Executive production Carolina Vallejo. ©℗One World Records 2025
LINE UP Kankou Kouyate (Vocals), Kandjafa (N’Goni Medium) Madou Kouyate (N’Goni Bass &
Percussion), Lassine Kouyate (Tama, Bará, Karinia, Calabash Shaker), Legre Thibaut Sery (Calabash,
Congas, Bells & Shakers). SPECIAL GUESTS Bassekou Kouyate (N’Goni Medium) “Bala”, “Den Kelen”,
“Maria Lulu Rishi” Sefoudi Kouyate (Kora) “Denin Kongo”, “Doke” Charles Coulibaly (Keybords) “On dit
non”, “Den Kelen”, “Maria Lulu” Yuliesky Gonzalez (Trumpet) “Maria Lulu Rishi” Madou Kouyate &
Legre Thibaut Sery (Backing Vocals) “On dit non”
TITLES 01. Bala 03:43, 02. Gnanadje 04:35, 03. On dit non 06:39, 04. Deni Koungo (*) 04:20, 05. Blanko
03:48, 06. Den Kelen 05:33, 07. Na fa te Djougouyala 06:18, 08. Doke (*) 03:50, 09. G