OUSMANE KOUYATE - Kefimba

Analog Africa now presents Ousmane Kouyaté’s two funk-infused Mandingue gems from the early 1980s, meticulously restored, and promised to set dancefloors ablaze with its infectious rhythms. Named after an all-black bull from Ousmane Kouyate's childhood, Kefimba is relentless. SUBSCRIBE TO ANALOG AFRICA´s CHANNEL - http://bit.ly/2riUuLL VISIT ANALOG AFRICA - https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/ LIKE ANALOG AFRICA - https://www.facebook.com/AnalogAfrica FOLLOW ANALOG AFRICA - https://www.instagram.com/analogafricarecords/ NEWS ABOUT ANALOG AFRICA - https://linktr.ee/analogafrica FOR LICENSING AND ENQUIERES PLEASE CONTACT : info@analogafrica.com End of July 2020, while the world still was in hangover from the first lockdown, I embarked on a train journey to Paris, brimming with excitement for my inaugural Analog Africa expedition. My destination: a rendez-vous with Ousmane Kouyaté in his Parisian flat, a meeting we had arranged weeks earlier. As I was heading to Sevran in the Parisian suburbs where Ousmane awaited, I got a little nervous but his warm welcome quickly broke the ice. Over tea we delved into conversations about his illustrious career, adorned with photographs documenting the journey. When I mentioned our plans to reissue his songs "Kefimba" and "N’Ny", Ousmane disappeared momentarily, returning in a beautiful traditional dress holding two original reels with a grin. After finalizing our collaboration details, I captured the scene before we retreated to the kitchen for a hearty stew prepared by his family. Born into a lineage of griots in 1952 in Dabola Guinea, Ousmane inherited a rich tradition steeped in the oral heritage of Africa. Griots held esteemed positions as storytellers, poets and musicians, safeguarding oral legacies and often serving as advisors to royalty since the foundation of Soundiata Keita's Malinke Empire in 1235. As music coursed through Ousmane’s veins, he naturally picked up the guitar and the balafon in his early years. During his teenage years Ousmane formed a youth band with his comrades before leaving for agriculture studies at Kankan University. Shortly before graduating he decided to focus on music and relocated to Bamako where he forged friendships with Mory Kanté and Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako, immersing himself in Bamako’s vibrant scene. Led by Guinean guitarist Kanté Manfila, featuring Malian singer Salif Keita, Les Ambassadeurs were forging a new Mandingue sound. Open to all kinds of music, they remained Mandingue rooted while embracing diverse influences during their decade and half of existence from 1970 to 1985. One night in 1977 after Ousmane performed the song Manicero on stage with Les Ambassadeurs, Kanté Manfila asked Ousmane to follow his steps to Abidjan since the band was splitting up. Ousmane Kouyaté joined Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux for what is referred to as the band’s second phase. With Salif Keita’s outstanding voice, Kanté Manfila and Ousmane Kouyaté’s cracked guitars, under close attention of legendary Beninese producer Badmos who had paid them instruments, Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux released their first album in 1978 and became one of the most popular West African band of that time, captivating worldwide audiences with their electrifying sound. After a few years touring, Ousmane decided to focus on his own compositions and went to the esteemed JBZ Recording Studio in Abidjan. The Italian owned studio did extremely well back in the days and anyone passing by Abidjan would generally end up recording there. Teaming up with fellow musicians from Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Ousmane birthed "Kefimba" - a song named after his childhood all-black bull he shared his Manioc meals with - and "N'Ny", both initially released on cassette before making their way to vinyl in 1982 and 1983. When Ousmane left Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux shortly before their split in the mid-80s, he followed the footsteps of Salif Keita and became his guitarist for more than 3 decades. Thanks to music both friends traveled the world on a global musical journey that eventually led them to settle in France - a lifelong aspiration fulfilled for Ousmane Kouyaté -.