Tribute to the “electric griot”: Mory Kanté, the famous Guinean singer and musician, died at the age of 70.

Guinea and all African countries are in tears. The exceptional singer and musician Mory Kanté passed away at the age of 70 from a long illness on 22 May 2020, in a hospital in Conakry. He was known for his hit Yéké yéké in 1988.

Nicknamed the “electric griot”, he had contributed to the popularisation of African and Guinean music throughout the world, becoming a reference point for African youth, explains Senegalese singer Ismaël Lo.

 

A few words about his remarkable career.

Crédit photo : Mory Kanté

• Date of birth: 29.3.1950. Place of birth: Albadaria or Kissidougou prefecture.
• Deceased on 22/05/2020
• Music genre: World Music
• Career start: 1971

Mory Kanté was born on March 29, 1950 in Albadaria, French Guinea to a Malian mother and a Guinean father.

He comes from a family of griots, poets, singers, historians and journalists. In his childhood, he was introduced to traditional rituals, singing and balafon. Very talented, he participates in many official ceremonies where he reveals all his talent as a singer and musician. While learning the guitar, he developed a passion for electrified music. He listens to Congolese rumba, English pop, chachacha, mambo from Cuba. He also learned to play the Kora, which was to become one of his favourite instruments.

He will continue his training at the Institute of Arts in Bamako, Mali. But in 1969, he stopped his training and played in various orchestras.

At the age of 21, he was spotted by the saxophonist, Tidiani Koné, from Salif Keita’s band in 1971. He offered him the opportunity to join the group, Rail Band from Bamako, whose singer was the Malian Salif Keïta.

 

His music

His style is a fusion of modern and traditional music. He propelled African and Guinean music around the world with his hit single Yéké yéké in 1988. The single went on to sell over a million copies and was number 1 in several countries around the world. It was crowned “Golden Voice” in Nigeria in 1976. In 1988 he was awarded a “Victoire de la musique” for the best French-language album. In 1990, the album “Touma” was awarded a gold disc in France. He went on to perform at the most important festivals and toured the world. In 2001, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

 

His funeral

Guinean artist’s funeral took place on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 with Manding songs and griots in the company of his friends and family.

 

Discography

• 2012 : La Guinéenne
• 2004 : Sabou
• 2001 : Tamala – Le voyageur
• 1996 : Tatebola
• 1994 : Nongo village
• 1990 : Touma
• 1987 : Akwaba Beach
• 1986 : 10 kola nuts
• 1984 : A Paris
• 1982 : N’Diarabi
• 1981 : Courougnegne

 

International tribute

Many personalities and Internet users have paid tribute to him on social networks.

Mory Kante’s songs gave many Western listeners an accessible introduction to African music. After his death, the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde, wrote on Twitter that “African culture is in mourning.” https://t.co/RZz74zloT1

— New York Times Music (@nytimesmusic) May 28, 2020

🇬🇳 Hundreds of people gathered to mourn the death of Guinean singer Mory Kante in his native country’s capital Conakry, to the sound of keening and traditional musical laments https://t.co/jAE7ydF3EX pic.twitter.com/mo0t4SpGL5

— AFP Entertainment (@AFPceleb) May 26, 2020

So sorry to hear of the death of Mory Kanté. He played @midem in 1989 for a U.K. @channel4 TV show I was producing called Big World Cafe. (We featured new artists. Not much changes). Lovely man, amazing talent. And Yeke Yeke is still so irresistible. RIP.

— Paul Campbell (@drumpaul) May 22, 2020

Legendary Guinean artist Mory Kante died but his music still lives, we take a dive into his world, in this tribute to the great child of Africa: https://t.co/vPjDkNLnhf

— Afroway (@afrowayonline) May 25, 2020

C’est avec tristesse qu’on m’annonce la mort de la légende du Tonton Mory Kanté paix a son âme que la terre lui soit légère il fut l’un des premiers artistes à imposer la musique africaine avec yeke yeke merci pour ta gentillesse ton sourire 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/0zsfaCQtrk

— #ONESTENSEMBLE (@Mokobe113) May 22, 2020

Je viens d’apprendre avec consternation le rappel à Dieu de mon frère aîné et référence Maître Mory Kanté. Je ressens un énorme vide aujourd’hui avec le départ de ce baobab de la Culture Africaine. Repose en paix. De ton Frère affligé Youssou Ndour pic.twitter.com/L62RWiEbTh

— YOUSSOU NDOUR (@YoussouNdourSN) May 22, 2020

Un baobab vient de tomber. Un Mansa:le roi des rois des griots modernes mandingues. 50ans de carrière, ambassadeur de cette musique classique. Il a écrit l’histoire des musiciens africains sur la scène internationale dès 1982 avec Yeke Yeke. Un génie, un djeli: RIP Mory Kanté🙏🏿🇬🇳 pic.twitter.com/kCyyooHt3t

— Binetou Sylla (@Sylla_Binetou) May 22, 2020

Le chanteur guinéen #Mory_Kanté est mort à l’âge de 70 ans. En 1989, il chantait son tube “Yéké Yéké” lors d’un concert de SOS Racisme sur l’esplanade du château de Vincennes. pic.twitter.com/gpoeO244jG

— Ina.fr (@Inafr_officiel) May 22, 2020

Une légende vient de nous quitter Mory KANTÉ tout est symbole dans notre pays, en Afrique et partout dans le monde, paix à ton âme légende 🙏🇬🇳😭 pic.twitter.com/ON7b3FRVvw

— Sultan de Conakry 🇬🇳🎙 (@ABDELDJALIL224) May 22, 2020

Immense perte pour notre pays.
Ton héritage artistique et culturel est éternel.
En ces Jours Saints, que Dieu accueille Mory Kanté dans son Royaume.
Amen. pic.twitter.com/hJpweXZhKa

— MOUSTAPHA NAÏTE (@NaiteMoustapha) May 22, 2020

Noooooooooon 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 un autre monument de la musique africaine nous quitte
Rip MR mory kante pic.twitter.com/FU52aMfMO1

— Djibril Cisse (@DjibrilCisse) May 22, 2020

#Mory_Kanté La culture africaine est en deuil. Mes condoléances les plus attristées…
Merci l’artiste. Un parcours exceptionnel. Exemplaire. Une fierté. pic.twitter.com/Acoxjyfwnb

— Alpha CONDÉ (@alphacondepresi) May 22, 2020

La légende Mory Kanté paix a son âme ce fut un plaisir de collaborer avec toi ta voix était magique et elle le restera African tonic au studio avec Dj Arafat R.I.P souvenir inoubliable merci de nous avoir permis d’y croire tu es le premier qu’on a vu à la tv pic.twitter.com/nZ1lMRC77I

— #ONESTENSEMBLE (@Mokobe113) May 22, 2020

L’Afrique vient de perdre un de ses dignes fils, une icône de sa culture. Mory Kanté fut un artiste talentueux, créateur de sons et de rythmes, ambassadeur de l’Afrique. Au peuple guinéen et à mon frère le Président @alphacondepresi, je présente mes condoléances émues.

— Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) May 22, 2020

Mory Kanté s’en est allé.
Né le 29 mars 1950 à Albadariya en Guinée, il est le maître de la kora, membre du mythique Rail Band du buffet.
En 1976, le Nigeria l’honore du trophée de la VOIX D’OR.
En 1985, il fait danser la planète avec le devenu culte “YékéYéké”
R.I.P Legend😢 pic.twitter.com/yHSOZs60jD

— First Magazine🎉🍾🥂🇨🇮 (@FirstMagaziine) May 22, 2020

Nous présentons nos sincères condoléances à la famille de la légende Mory Kanté 😥, à la Guinée et au monde entier.
Mory Kanté était pour nous une source d’inspiration et nous aurions même souhaité l’avoir en featuring pour notre prochain album mais Dieu en a décidé autrement🕊️ pic.twitter.com/OGGfoE3E4Z

— Hezbo Rap 🇬🇳 (@hezbo_rap) May 22, 2020