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Balla Kouyate
Afro-beat / Acoustic / Jazz



NYC/Boston,
United States

Profile Views:  7878




Last Login:  7/5/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Balla Kouyate

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/ballakouyate  

   Balla Kouyate: General Info
Member Since2/6/2007
Band Websiteballakouyate.com
Band MembersInstruments: Balafon, Bass Guitar, Calabash - Balla Kouyate; Violin - Patricia Tang; Djembe, Calabash - Sekou "Pablo" Dembele;
Influences

Balla playing "Boula" with World Vision at Rose Live Music in Brooklyn.

Balla with the Mamadou Diabate Ensemble at the Wheatland Music Festival.

Balla is featured on Mamadou's latest CD, "Heritage." Check it out at www.myspace.com/diabatemamadou.
Sounds Like
Click on the picture of my CD to purchase online!
Type of LabelNone



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   About Balla Kouyate


Balla Kouyate is an extraordinary balafon player from the Djeli or “griot” tradition in Mali. The Kouyates were the first Djelis in the Mande Empire. The balafon (ancestor of the xylophone) was given to Balla's ancestors by nobles in the 12th century and has remained in his family ever since. His father, El Hadj Sekou Kouyate, is the guardian of the very first balafon, the Sosso Bala, dating back more than 800 years.

Balla seemed destined to play this instrument, learning from his father from the age of six years. He performed for the first time in Bamako, Mali at "Palais de la Culture" with Malian singer Sanignai Kouyate. In 1994, he was a member of the Ensemble Instrumentale du Mali. By 1997 he was granted the opportunity to play with singer Ami Koita at the O.I.A. conference, which brought together 27 African presidents.

Balla is very excited about his latest project. He has put together his own band, World Vision. Look for them in Chicago and other upcoming venues! Balla has also been engaged by many African artists to tour in the United States, including Sekouba Bambino Diabate and his sister, Kanibaoulen Kouyate. He has worked extensively with kora master Mamadou Diabate playing venues such as Lincoln Center Outdoor Festival, Symphony Space and festivals around the country. They both have played as part of Rowell Rudd's MALIcool ensemble. In 2004, Balla played with Sidiki Conde at Carnegie Hall for a month-long residency for children. Just recently in September and October 2006, the two were artists-in-residence in Minneapolis for the VSA. He joined Ursel Schlicht's Ex Tempore in 2004. While playing with Ex Tempore, he felt the need to expand the tonal possibilities of the balafon and created a chromatic instrument, to his knowledge the first chromatic balafon ever.

Balla's superior musicianship has been featured on at least 45 albums. He is excited to be finally releasing his first CD in September. Stay tuned for more details! Check out the Collaborations page on his website to see more of his current and past projects.

   Balla Kouyate's Friend Space (Top 16)
Balla Kouyate has 520 friends.
 Toumani Diabate 


 Sekouba Bambino 


 Mamadou Diabate 


 Raja Kassis 


 Noah Jarrett 


 ExTempore 


 LAMINE TOURE & GROUP SALOUM 


 Manu Koch 


 Aly Keita. 

Is Online
 MADY KOUYATE&THE HEAT OF AFRICA 


 Seckou Keita 


 Bodek Janke 


 World Music Festival: Chicago 


 World Village 


 CalabashMusic 


 World Education 





Balla Kouyate's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 59 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Khaled Laouar





Apr 6 2008 3:51 AM

thanx for the add and greetings from algiers
amicaly, khaled.
AnKaTaa





Apr 5 2008 6:15 AM

Greetings. Love your music. The bala sounds great.
Peace
AnKaTaa
Frizzey-Lights





Mar 16 2008 2:04 AM

Hello dear friend !

10 Years around the world

6 min. Film Sequences from 90 min Cinema.
A peoples connecting world project
in Dolby 5.1

Love & Peace
with
Frizzey-Lights

(click picture)

Mino Marinelli





Mar 10 2008 12:30 PM

Thank you, an honour for me to have had your amicizia..Ciao
Mali Blues





Mar 5 2008 1:41 PM



Feel like goin' home

AMINA HECKSTALL - Dir. of Ballet Int'l African





Feb 23 2008 10:58 PM

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!

We just feel like leaving our blessings everywhere!
From The International Africans/ BIA
AFRIKA FREEDOM mprod





Feb 22 2008 6:38 AM

salut!!balla!!vraiment nice ta musik..yess...good vib's..freedom
Ayo Shani


Is Online


Feb 20 2008 8:49 AM

Hi brother Balla Kouyate
We're together!
Many Peace, Love, respect,
health, light, success and
prosperity to you keep
doing your wonderful job
Big Hug
One Love
Shintaro SENDO(仙堂新太郎)





Feb 19 2008 8:28 AM

Hello Mr.Balla

I am performing with this film music.
Memoirs of a Geisha-Snow Dance"SAYURI"


All the best from TOKYO
tim





Jan 30 2008 8:06 AM

hi balla!
hope you are well and having fun. sorry we couldn't get you down to richmond last week with papa, but he's coming back in july, so hopefully then.
bringing Cheick Hamala Diabate here in february, which should be fun.
also wanted to let you know that your site has been hacked. you'll need to change your password ...
good luck!
Eléa





Jan 22 2008 3:48 PM

hi,
happy new year, thanks for your great music.
peace and harmony.
CLARO





Jan 17 2008 3:32 PM

Beautiful sounds and music, thanks a lot. Have a great year ! Blessings from south of France***
Roberto Quadroni





Jan 17 2008 6:28 AM

Hi and Thank you so much for the friendship.
> gOOd sound!!

Best regards from Como (Italy)


susaan from DEBU





Jan 7 2008 9:09 AM

Enjoying your music,taa for adding,
Photobucket
Weltenreiter





Jan 2 2008 12:42 AM

Thank you for the friendship.
Happy New Year for you all!
Best wishes for 2008 !


LES TOUBABOUS





Dec 30 2007 10:07 AM

pour bien commencer 2008

et bonne année à tous
Laura who?





Dec 28 2007 11:00 AM

Happy New Year Balla and KK. Hope to see more of you in '08. xoxox-Laura
Queen B





Dec 26 2007 4:07 PM

peace to you in the new year.
Ben Badoo/Neil Sparkes BougaraBou





Dec 4 2007 2:32 AM




click here for BouGaRaBou

Piccola Orchestra La Viola





Nov 14 2007 2:07 PM

Hi Balla...thanks for the add...
thanks for your great music and sound!
From Italy...
Piccola Orchestra La Viola
Laura who?





Nov 12 2007 7:14 AM

Hi Balla. Big hugs and kisses to you and your family. Miss you guys.
EMANOO





Nov 8 2007 12:42 AM

hi Balla Kouyate, balafola!
ça swing dans la balafon! j'apprécie beaucoup!
greetings...
emanoo
Frizzey-Lights





Nov 5 2007 1:29 PM

Our world for tomorrow
Give them a chance

Good Vibes from Lights
alessandro scenna





Oct 31 2007 5:56 AM

hi Tnk u 4 the Add! i like very much ur sounds! u're so good with balafon i can just make a positive comment! ByE hope to listen u on stage!
Ben Badoo/Neil Sparkes BougaraBou





Oct 30 2007 4:34 PM

Salut Balla, The Drum Speaks! Greetings from BouGaRaBou


Atlas Soul





Oct 12 2007 7:43 PM

Hi,

We just wanted to let you know about 3 new songs on our page! Check them out and send us a comment!

Peace,

Jacques
AndreasBrade





Oct 12 2007 10:41 AM

Hey my man, haven't played with you for looooong, what's happening????
Let's catch up
Healing in Words


Is Online


Oct 4 2007 11:53 AM

Peace, blessings and wonderful music! Congratulations on your new CD! I will stay tuned. :)

Dorothy
Laura who?





Oct 4 2007 7:33 AM

Hey Balla - Congrats on the CD Release. I will be purchasing a copy soon. xoxoxxo-Laura
Frizzey-Lights





Sep 25 2007 6:57 AM

Global Vibrations – Brazil 2007

Life without meetings
is like a wood without trees.
Good Vibes
Frizzey
dawn





Sep 22 2007 6:31 AM

your music is SO beautiful and exciting ! i see you have some important dates this weekend ! wish i were there in New Mexico to share in this blessed musical experiance !
sending love ! dRenee
dawn





Sep 16 2007 5:35 PM

aA
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dDay of fluttering
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dDreams and
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
mMany shared
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sScheme
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zZ

!O!
!X!
d!R
Aziza Brahim





Sep 7 2007 6:40 AM

Thanks for the add!!!
dawn





Aug 30 2007 4:53 AM

o
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
O
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
o

the world does offer such beauty
dawn





Aug 26 2007 9:58 AM

you are sooooooooooooooooo GOOD !

thank you for bringing to us the greatness of your soul into the flow and power of your music !

much love to you sir ! much love !

renee
The Heather Maxwell Band





Aug 26 2007 6:33 AM

I ni ce, Balla. Aw ka kene?
I ka musiki kadi, de. A ka di kogugu yere yere.
K'an nyogon ye nogoya.
Heather
Spin The Globe





Aug 20 2007 1:47 PM

Greetings Balla -- hope you'll come play the West coast sometime.

Scott Stevens, World Music Director
KAOS Radio, CAB 301
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA 98505 USA

Fred photographe


Is Online


Aug 14 2007 11:39 PM

Thank you for the addition, me hope that my page will speak to you about Mali.
Friendships
Fred
Mary





Jul 12 2007 7:52 AM

Thanks for adding me. Your music is stunning. Beautiful-technical-powerful. Many blessings and smiles from Mary.
Raja Kassis





Jul 9 2007 3:18 PM


Guinea C





Jul 6 2007 2:51 AM

Thanks for being a friend.
Abdoullay





Jul 5 2007 3:15 AM

Anitiè


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SEYDOU DAO