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Mory Djely Deen Kouyaté (1968-2024)
(Guinea)
Biography
Mory Djely Deen Kouyaté was born in Siguiri in 1968. He didn't grow up with his mother Djéné Kouyaté, but
rather with his father's second wife Nako Kouyaté
who wasn't able to have children herself. Mory Djely wasn't very brilliant at school, he preferred to sing and started at the age of 15 a musical career
in Kankan. His father was not happy with his choice, but the young Mory preferred music to school.
Mory Djely Deen Kouyaté recorded several cassette albums in Guinée and he is widely respected as a great singer with a very powerful voice, but also for his talent as griot, historian, and defender of Malinké culture and legacy. Over the years, he worked with several artists, and he developed a particular friendship with French keyboard talent Jean-Philippe Rykiel, who has a long portfolio of projects with African artists. He has worked with Xalam, Seydina insa Wade and Diogal.
It was in 2010 that Mory Djely Kouyaté and Jean-Philippe Rykiel recorded an album together, « Tinkiso » on the Celluloid label. It was his first album that was released on the international market. A few years later, in 2013/2014, he featured on the song « Gnama » by Elie Kamano.
Mory Djely Kouyaté fell ill in 2007, was received medical treatment in Morocco. Despite advice to stop singing, he continued working, and recorded with Jean-Philippe Rykiel. After « Tinkiso », Rykiel wanted to record a second album, as he stated more "grandiose", in line with Mory's powerful voice and stature. The recordings were finished in 2014, but no record label was ready to release it. Mory suffered a stroke shortly after, would not be able to perform anymore, in order to promote this new album. In June 2024, Mory Djely died after a long illness, but he had given the green light to Jean-Philippe Rykiel to release their last album whenever he felt right to do so. The album « A Y O » was released on Bandcamp two days after Mory's death.
Mory Djely Deen Kouyaté recorded several cassette albums in Guinée and he is widely respected as a great singer with a very powerful voice, but also for his talent as griot, historian, and defender of Malinké culture and legacy. Over the years, he worked with several artists, and he developed a particular friendship with French keyboard talent Jean-Philippe Rykiel, who has a long portfolio of projects with African artists. He has worked with Xalam, Seydina insa Wade and Diogal.
It was in 2010 that Mory Djely Kouyaté and Jean-Philippe Rykiel recorded an album together, « Tinkiso » on the Celluloid label. It was his first album that was released on the international market. A few years later, in 2013/2014, he featured on the song « Gnama » by Elie Kamano.
Mory Djely Kouyaté fell ill in 2007, was received medical treatment in Morocco. Despite advice to stop singing, he continued working, and recorded with Jean-Philippe Rykiel. After « Tinkiso », Rykiel wanted to record a second album, as he stated more "grandiose", in line with Mory's powerful voice and stature. The recordings were finished in 2014, but no record label was ready to release it. Mory suffered a stroke shortly after, would not be able to perform anymore, in order to promote this new album. In June 2024, Mory Djely died after a long illness, but he had given the green light to Jean-Philippe Rykiel to release their last album whenever he felt right to do so. The album « A Y O » was released on Bandcamp two days after Mory's death.
Mory Djely Deen Kouyaté
Musicians on "Le Retour à la source":
Mory Djely Deen Kouyaté lead vocals, talking drum;
Aicha Koné lead vocals (on track A3: Foudou Saba);
Yaya Condé bass;
Djekorya Mory Kanté solo guitar;
Sandaly Diabaté acc. guitar;
Cheick M. Smith keyboards;
Pamphile de Souza Programming Linn;
Mabou Camara balafon;
Moussa Doumbouya djembé;
Karifa Wara Condé tumba;
Vieux Donsso flute;
Bassi Pierre trumpet;
Moro Beya Maduma alt sax;
Massa Visi Mosant tenor sax;
Aminata Cissoko Amah - Mahawa Kanté (Kankan) - Maïmouna Barry backing vocals;
Recording: J.B.Z. Recording Studio Abidjan
Mory Djely Deen Kouyaté lead vocals, talking drum;
Aicha Koné lead vocals (on track A3: Foudou Saba);
Yaya Condé bass;
Djekorya Mory Kanté solo guitar;
Sandaly Diabaté acc. guitar;
Cheick M. Smith keyboards;
Pamphile de Souza Programming Linn;
Mabou Camara balafon;
Moussa Doumbouya djembé;
Karifa Wara Condé tumba;
Vieux Donsso flute;
Bassi Pierre trumpet;
Moro Beya Maduma alt sax;
Massa Visi Mosant tenor sax;
Aminata Cissoko Amah - Mahawa Kanté (Kankan) - Maïmouna Barry backing vocals;
Recording: J.B.Z. Recording Studio Abidjan
Born: 1968, in Siguiri
Died: 22 June 2024, in Paris
Style: mandingo music / griot music
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| A Y O | 2024 | Self-released by J-P Rykiel | Album by Mory Djely Kouyaté and Jean Philippe Rykiel |
| Tinkiso | 2010 | Celluloid 006617 | Album by Mory Djely Kouyaté and Jean Philippe Rykiel |
| Le retour au champ | [2004?] | Amacif BGDA 03/06 | Cassette |
| La flamme de la vérité | 2003 | No label | Cassette |
| Le Retour A La Source | [1995?] | Sonia Store BGDA 95010 | Cassette, subtitle: La connaissance de soi |
| Könöninta | [1992?] | Super Selection | Cassette. Also reissued by Camara Productions CK7 447 |
| La renaissance mandingue | [1991?] | Sonia Store BGDA 2091 | Cassette |
| Mory Djely Dinne Kouyaté | [?] | No label, # 112821 | Cassette. Distribution: Super Selection |
Sources
rtgguinee.info: Necrologie : le griot mythique Mory Djely Deen Kouyate n'est plus [external link, retrieved 18-09-2024]
mediaguinee.com: Mory Djély Deen Kouyaté, le “bélébéléba” de la musique guinéenne est décédé ! [external link, retrieved 18-09-2024]
afrisson.com/mory-djely-kouyate/ [external link, retrieved 18-09-2024]
https://jprykiel.bandcamp.com/album/a-y-o
rtgguinee.info: Necrologie : le griot mythique Mory Djely Deen Kouyate n'est plus [external link, retrieved 18-09-2024]
mediaguinee.com: Mory Djély Deen Kouyaté, le “bélébéléba” de la musique guinéenne est décédé ! [external link, retrieved 18-09-2024]
afrisson.com/mory-djely-kouyate/ [external link, retrieved 18-09-2024]
https://jprykiel.bandcamp.com/album/a-y-o
Page added October 2024