Bassekou has been revolutionary in establishing a new role for the Ngoni, a distant ancestor of the banjo and one of the oldest string instruments in Africa. Comprised of three strings, a calabash gourd and a wooden stick, it has been used for centuriesas a secondary orchestral instrument and ceremonial device. By adding strings, developing new techniques of playing and defying tradition by plugging it in and experimenting with sound effects such as the wah-wahpeddle, Bassekou brought the instrument into the musical foreground where it is now a prominent feature of many Malian bands touring today. In Bassekou’s hands this seemingly limited instrument has grown to accommodate a wider melodic range and versatility embracing western styles such as jazz, blues and rock and roll, confirming his status as the originator of the electric ngoni, a virtuoso and a visionary.

Born on 7 August 1966 in Garana, a small village on the banks of the river Niger, Bassekou is descended from a long line of griots. His father Moustapha Kouyate (himself a brilliant musician) was a traditionalist who avoided recording for fear of being punished by God. Bassekou was taught the ngoni by his father, who despite being frustrated by his son’s rebellious spirit and lack of discipline predicted that he would “one day be a great ngoni player.” Pushing the boundaries of what was previously thought possible with this instrument, Bassekou went even further in his rebellion when he eventually formed the first full ngoni band, the Ngoni ba, consisting of ngonis of various sizes and tonal range.

During his formative years in the 1980’s Bassekou established himself as a modernist, co-founding the legendary Malian Symmetric Orchestra, a ground breaking ensemble which challenged the traditional usage of the ngoni. Its success increased his profile outside Mali, bringing him to the attention of international musicians such as Taj Mahal. Bassekou’s virtuosity of the ngoni was later confirmed on the world stage with the legendary Ali Farka Toure’s Grammy Award winning Savane in 2006, a record on which Bassekou played a central role. It was soon after that Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba, was born.

In less than 6 years, since the release of his first album with the Ngoni ba, Bassekou Kouyate has forged a distinctive sound earning him numerous accolades and awards. His debut album Segu Blue released by outhere records, became one of the most celebrated African releases of 2007, and was awarded Album of the Year and Best African Artist at the BBC 3 Awards for World Music.