Amadou Kouyate

The Department of Music and the Center for Innovation, Research and Creativity in the Arts (CIRCA) present Amadou Kouyate in concert.

Amadou Kouyate is the 150th generation of the Kouyate family of Manding Diali, renowned oral historians and musicians of West Africa. Amadou performs on the 21-string Kora and also on Djembe and Koutiro drums. His repertoire spans traditional songs from the 13th century to original compositions incorporating blues and jazz. Amadou studied in Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Cote d’Ivoire with master musicians of the Diali tradition including Djimo Kouyate and Toumani Diabate. Formerly a 2013-14 Strathmore Artist in Residence and Adjunct Lecturer of African Music and Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland, Amadou pursues a full-time schedule as a solo artist and collaborator. A well-traveled performer, Amadou has brought his music to The Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution, Bristol Academy and Isle of Wight in England, Tim Festival in Brazil, as well as the Lowell, East-Lansing and Dayton National Folk Festivals. He collaborated with Sweet Honey in The Rock at Carnegie Hall and performed at the Victoria World Rhythm Festival. Amadou will be artist-in-residence in the Departments of Music and Dance at UMBC in Spring 2022.

This performance is made possible with support from a Maryland State Arts Council Folklife Network Grant.