Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe

♬ Papa Houphouet

El Hadj Djeli Sory Kouyate – better known as Kouyate Sory – was from Kindia, Guinea. Not to be confused with Kouyate Sory Kandia – who he played with and who was also from Guinea. He has been called “the world’s greatest balafon player”.

Although he received his first balafon at the age of 12, Kouyate was little known outside of Guinea until joining the Ensemble Instrumental National of Guinea in 1961. While touring in the United States, Kouyate and other members met vocalist and political activist Harry Belafonte. Inspired by the group’s music, Belafonte formed the Djoliba Ballet and invited Kouyate to become involved. Accepting the invitation, Kouyate remained with the ballet company for nearly a decade.

In 1981, Kouyate became director of the National Choral and Instrumental Ensemble in Guinea. Seven years later, he garnered critical acclaim for his playing in the Broadway production Africa Oyé.

Although Kouyate Sory was from Guinea, all of his recordings were released on labels from Côte d’Ivoire – Afriphone, Badmos, Djima and Société Ivoirienne du Disque – instead of Editions Syliphone Conakry.

Catalog number SID 35 of Société Ivoirienne du Disque of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Mindblowing. All your songs. I’ve been random crate digging, but it is so rare that the songs from obscure countries are this great. Fantastic work.

Comment by yes July 3, 2023 @ 9:43 am