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Amadou Kouyate
Facebook: Amadou Kouyate
Born in the Washington, DC, Amadou Kouyate is the 150th generation of the Kouyate lineage and has studied and performed Manding music since the age of three years old. Amadou is a dynamic djembe and koutiro drummer. He also plays the 21-string kora, which he learned first with his father, Djimo Kouyate and other master Diali --oral historians/musicians-- of Manding tradition in West Africa. Amadou has dedicated his life to the task of become an ambassador of African culture to the world. The catalyst for such a responsibility is the passion he has for reconnecting those of the African Diasporas to one another. His repertoire ranges from traditional songs from the 13th century to contemporary original compositions incorporating blues and jazz riffs.
He received the Maryland Start Arts Council Governor's Citation and other artistic awards from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Special Talents and Musical Theatre Scholarships at Howard University and Levine School of Music. Amadou has studied in Mali, Senegal, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire with master musicians of the Diali tradition including Djimo Kouyate and Toumani Diabate.
Amadou Kouyate has taught as an Adjunct Lecturer of African Music and Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland and as Artist-In-Residence at Montgomery College.
In addition to his solo work, Amadou Kouyate performs with his world rock ensemble Proper SKANKS as well as with Farafina Kan, Manding Jata, Spank Rock, Urban Afrikan, The Kouyate Family/Memory of African Culture and past performances with African American Dance Ensemble, Images of Cultural Artistry and Mamaya African Jazz. His credits include performances at The Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution, Bristol Academy and Isle of White (England), Tim Festival (Brazil), Lowell, East-Lansing and Dayton National Folk Festivals, DanceAfrica DC and Chicago, with The National Symphony Orchestra, the production "Soul Possessed," directed by Debbie Allen and at Carnegie Hall with Sweet Honey in The Rock and the WPAS Men and Women of the Gospel in "INDABA."
Musician/Performing Artist: African Instrumental Music - Kora, Djembe, Koutiro and pre-production
Proper SKANKS - 2008 to present, Lead Artist
Farafina Kan, 2002- present
Memory of African Culture Inc., 1985 - present
Urban AfriKan, 2003 - present, Founder
Manding Griot Ensemble, 1998 - present
Wato Sita Ensemble Project with Fred Johnson and Pepe Gonzalez, 2004
African American Dance Ensemble, Chuck Davis - Artistic Director, 2003 - 2004
Spoken Word/Hip Hop Artist: Hue-man Prophets, 1996 - 2002
Actor/Theater Artist: TASA - Teens Against the Spread of AIDS; 1999 - 2000
Other Major Production Credits:
"Hera Suite" original compositions and arrangements for University of Maryland and Montgomery College symphonic and djembe orchestras, 2008
"Indaba" Sweet Honey In the Rock w/ WPAS Mass Choir- November 2006
"Oedipus" Shakespeare Theater, Washington, DC - recorded for musical score, August 2001
"Timbuktu" Howard University Department of Theatre Arts, 2001
"The Washington Christmas Revels" December 1998
"Spirit of Kwanzaa" Dance Institute of Washington, December 2000,2003,2004,2005, 2006,
"Soul Possessed" produced by Debbie Allen for the Kennedy Center, 1999
The National Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center, directed by Hannibal 1997
Adjunct Lecturer/Drum Instructor, Asst. Drum Instructor, Guest Instructor
University of Maryland Ethnomusicology African Drum Ensemble Class, 1998-2010
Montgomery College World Music Ensemble ,2005-2010
Summer Education Arts Sports Program - DC TANF/DC Public Schools, 2001
Music Accompanist for Dance Classes
Towson University, African Dance, 2008 to present
Howard University, Guest Instructor: Dianne McIntyre 2008, 2007
DC Youth Ensemble, Summer 2008
Sunrise Academy, 2002-2003
Children and Youth Investment Corporation @ Perry School, 2001
Summer Education Arts Sports Program - DC TANF, DC Public Schools, 2001
Howard University - Dance Major Program/Dialiya-Kora Project, 2001
Assistant to Mahiri Keita for Kono Youth Ensemble classes, 1998-99
"As in the traditional context of 'Fasiya,' that which is passed through the generations, I am a Djali. Often synonymous to the French word griot, a storyteller, I have inherited a duty far beyond the comprehension of any story. As the 150th generation of the Kouyate clan, it is my responsibility to preserve the history of the Manding peoples and civilizations, and hand this knowledge down to my children. Unlike any generation before me, I am the first generation born on American soil, and therefore must preserve the knowledge of my mother's clan, who have sewn their roots into this nation since their being stripped from the arms of our motherland many centuries ago. As my heart beats to the rhythm of my ancestors, I recognize Fasiya as a part of myself. Creative expression is the vessel through which I can effectively excel in the pursuit of my interest, and properly fulfill my traditional responsibility on a broader level. In preserving the tradition, I devise new concepts of relaying ancient information into contemporary appeal, in hopes that one day my name shall be lauded for ages to come. Peace & Blessings"
-Amadou E. Kouyate
KORA AND DJEMBE SOUNDCLIPS BELOW :
Bani
Nanfoule
Djembe Drumming
For additional information, telephone: Amadou Kouyate or MAC, Inc. at
202/907-3316, 202/210-7120 or write to: MAC, Inc. P.O. Box 50045,
Washington, D.C. 20091;
or email akuakouyate@memoryofafricanculture.org
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