Born in 1966 in Garana, Bassekou Kouyaté started playing ngoni, a traditional lute found throughout West Africa, at the age of 12.

Soon he became one of the true masters of this instrument. After performing with two of the most celebrated African musicians – Toumani Diabaté and Ali Farka Touré – he formed his own group Ngoni Ba.

Their debut “Segu Blue” came out in 2007, followed by the Grammy-nominated “I Speak Fula” in 2009, and “Jama Ko” in 2013.