The Music of Mali Vol.7 - Mory Kanté

In the previous article on Malian music, we talked about Salif Keita, the first truly international star to come out of this country. He started his career with the “Super Rail Band de Bamako” and when he left the orchestra it was Mory Kante who took over his role. Mory would go on to become the second internationally acclaimed artist to come from Mali. It was his 1987 hit song "Yé ké yé ké" that brought him world fame, but there is a lot more behind his name than this particular song. Kante comes from a Mandinka griot family from Guinea, where he was born as the youngest child of El Hadj Djelifodé Kanté, who had (believe it or not) 38 children. Both of Mory's parents were griots, and his mother's father was an influential chief griot with a tribe of about 60 members (the song 'Alamina Badoubaden' is a tribute to him). At age 7, he was sent to Bamako in Mali to live with his aunt, Maman Ba Kamissoko, another famous griot. Until about the age of 15, he followed the traditional rituals, singing and learned the balafon, his family's emblematic instrument, but by the time he turned 21 Mory was discovered by saxophone player Tidiane Koné, who asked him to join the Rail Band of Bamako as a replacement for Salif Keita. Kante accepted, and his musical journey began.

At the same time, he learned to play the kora and discontinued the tradition that placed the balafon as his family's instrument of honor. Before long he became a virtuoso on the 21-string harp. He moved to Ivory Coast in 1978 where he met like-minded musicians and started to conceptualize the idea for a mix or bridge between Africa and the Western world. Mory Kanté recorded his first album "Courougnegre" in 1981 on the Ebony label from Los Angeles. By that time he refined his blends of tradition and modernism, using a combination of traditional and electric instruments. Already known in West Africa, after the release of the album Mory became a star throughout the continent.

In 1984 Mory moved to Paris where he recorded more albums and got many opportunities for touring. He found himself in the middle of the world music boom, and with his crossover style which he started several years before it became a trend, Mory easily found his place as a sought-after and much-appreciated artist. As an immigrant without papers, he became an essential figure in the world scene. When he released his album "Mory Kanté in Paris," his reputation grew rapidly within months.

In Italy, where he became a real superstar, Mory met US producer David Sancious, who had made a name for himself while working with Bruce Springsteen. They joined forces to record and produce Kante’s third album, "Ten Cola Nuts" released in 1986 on the French label Barclay. The kora was still at the center of the music, but synthesizers and horns became prominent too. The album was well crafted, and the press gave it excellent reviews, stating that Mory Kanté had indeed found a musical and cultural balance.

The following year in 1987, the artist now nicknamed the "electric griot" reached the peak of his success with a new album "Akwaba Beach". Recorded in collaboration with the English producer Nick Patrick, this album is a staple of Mandingo funk through one song in particular, "YékéYéké". Composed in the early 80s, the song was already on the "Mory Kanté in Paris" album, but unhappy with this first version, he decided to re-record it. The song became an exceptional success to which audiences around the world were to dance, and it ran up the charts around the world, starting in the Netherlands. In a few years, the single had sold millions, and had been transformed, adapted, remixed and recorded many times in various languages such as Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese, English, and Spanish. With "Yéké Yéké", Mory Kanté becomes the best selling African artist and one of the most recognized Malian musicians in the world.

In January 1990, he went to a studio in Brussels, then in Los Angeles, to put the final touches on his album "Touma" ("The instant"). For this occasion, he surrounded himself with big names in the music world such as Carlos Santana and the South African, Ray Phiri.

In 2004, the "electric griot" locked himself away in the studio for weeks on end, preparing a new album that took the music world completely by surprise. Going back to his roots, Kanté recorded an entirely acoustic album entitled "Sabou" ("The Cause").

Kanté was among Africa’s top musicians that banded together for the recording of “Africa Stop Ebola,” a song offering sound advice aimed at raising awareness in the wake of the Ebola crisis. The song, released in November of 2014, sold 250,000 copies with all proceeds going to medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Mory Kante has released dozens of albums under his name or as a collaborator. He still tours around the world. Here are some of his best songs. Until next time, enjoy!

Read previous articles:

THE MUSIC OF MALI VOL.6 - SALIF KEITA

THE MUSIC OF MALI VOL.5 - INDEPENDENCE AND REVIVAL

THE MUSIC OF MALI VOL.4 - OTHER INSTRUMENTS

THE MUSIC OF MALI VOL.3 - OTHER CALABASH HARPS

THE MUSIC OF MALI VOL.2 - THE KORA

THE MUSIC OF MALI VOL.1 - THE GRIOTS