Originally from Guinea Conakry, now living in Paris, Abdoulaye is part of the Mandingo griot castes.
From a very young age, he learned the guitar and the kora with his father Sékou Kouyaté - a respected griot, musician, and conductor of Miriam Makeba's orchestra. While accompanying him, Abdoulaye met the great musicians of the country, including Momo Wandel, Sekouba Bambino, Manfila Kanté, and Doura Barry, who influenced his musical style.
He traveled the world for eight years with the Circus Baobab troupe, the first circus in West Africa, whose story is told in an eponymous documentary directed by Laurent Chevalier.
Abdoulaye’s music is nourished by the traditional Mandingo repertoire and a variety of influences, including jazz, funk, reggae, West Indian biguine, and bossa nova. Sung in Soussou and French, his songs are inspired by both his romantic youth in Conakry, and the life lessons learned in the "jungle" of Europe.
He joins us with his regular band in support of his first album, Fenfanyi, which has been widely and warmly received. The album mixes ancestral traditions with modern sounds that are at times rhythmic and warm, and at others poetic and refined, but above all original - consolidating his place among the finest musicians of his generation.
Doors 7pm / Music 8pm / Tickets £14
All seating/tables are first come first served.