Born into the distinguished Kouyate griot lineage of southern Senegal, Kadialy Kouyate is an
internationally acclaimed kora virtuoso, singer, composer and educator. As a descendant of one of
West Africa’s most celebrated hereditary musical families, he was immersed from an early age in
the Mandinka griot tradition, a centuries-old practice of preserving history, storytelling and cultural
knowledge through music. Drawing on this rich heritage, Kadialy has developed a distinctive artistic
voice that seamlessly bridges traditional West African music and contemporary global sounds
Widely recognised as one of the leading kora players of his generation in the United Kingdom,
Kadialy has built a multifaceted career spanning international performance, recording, theatre,
broadcasting and education. He has worked with and collaborated alongside renowned
artists including Baaba Maal, Abel Selaocoe, Shabaka Hutchings, Mahalia, Pa Salieu, Greentea Peng and Sampha.
Drawing upon generations of musical heritage preserved within his family’s sound archive, Kadialy, along with his quartet, reimagine traditional West African songs through original compositions that honour the past while speaking to contemporary audiences.
