For
Musa Konate music has been the passport that has taken him around the
world. Born to Malian parents in the Ivory Coast, Musa grew up in the
neighborhoods of the Capitol City Abidjan, where music is an indelible
part of daily life. Musa's career has spanned four continents and over
25 years. His music illustrates his ability to fuse musical styles from
all over the world, thus never losing the unmistakable and unique sound
he calls "Afro-Mandingo" — one that incorporates modern pop
with the music and traditions of Africa and his ethnic group, the
Mandingo.
Although
he does not come from a musical family, his earliest memories are aural:
that of his mother crooning folk songs as she went about her household
chores. He cites his
influences as the great West African guitar virtuosos Ngoran Hyacinthe
and Djelimadi Tounkara; however, it was the Legendary American Guitarist
Jimi Hendrix, whose bold, guitar-heavy
music exploded on the African music scene in the 1960s, that
actually first inspired Musa to pick up a guitar
as a child.
Musa
is largely self-taught: his first guitar was a borrowed instrument from
his cousin. He and a group
of friends began practicing together with whatever instruments they
could find, then enterprisingly found an audience for their music at a
local music halls, where they would convince featured artists to allow
them to play during intermissions. It was at one of these impromptu
concerts where Musa got his first big break when he was discovered by
Ivoirian music star, Sery Simplice, who was impressed enough by Musa’s
talent that he hired Musa to play guitar in his band.
Since
then, Musa’s list of collaborators is a veritable who’s who of West
African music. He has
played with Salif Keita, Habib Koite, Toumani Diabaté, Keletigui Diabaté,
Ami Koita, Balanzan Segou, Fellou Star Kayes and Diata Band of Zani
Diabaté in Mali; Freddy Keita, L'orchestre Regional de Kaolack,
L'orchestre Regional de Fatick and Pape Niang in Senegal; Tarasinko in
Bamako; Kadugi ans GMG Band in Gambia; Tohon Stanislas and Kiri Kanta
from Benin; Simpore Maurice in Burkina Faso; Ismael Isaac from the Ivory
Coast; and Camayene Sofa from Guinea.
In the late 1990’s, Musa joined the renowned West African group
Les Gos de l’Ensemble Koteba d’Abidjan, and toured throughout
Africa, Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States.
His
travels and his life experiences have influenced his songwriting and
musical arrangements; Musa’s original compositions, with lyrics in
Mandingo and French, reflect social themes familiar to fans of African
and Reggae music: love, the need for education, war and peace, as well
as the difficulties of modern life.
His lyrics demonstrate that he is still very much in touch with
the world from which he came, as illustrated by the song "Douniya,"
— The World.
Why
is there so much injustice in this world
Where criminality only becomes greater?
Hunger, war, people who aren’t able to eat their fill
While others don’t even know what hunger is?
Is it destiny of man?
In
the three years that he has made Denver, Colorado his home, Musa has
become a fixture in the Afro-Caribbean music scene, in which he has
become known for his ability and range as a guitar player, vocalist, and
songwriter. Musa thus has gathered a reputation as a musician with the
ability to transform the most familiar song into his own unique guitar
and vocal arrangements. Having
paid his dues as a lounge musician in West African hotels, he is adept
at a variety of styles. These formative experiences have helped Musa
create a style independent of conventional labels: his music cannot be
easily categorized or classified. He
says, "I don’t want to be labeled as a certain type of musician.
The music I play is simply an expression of what I feel and
what’s in my head. I call
it Afro-Mandingo style because my roots inform everything about my
music."
Musa's
band—Musa Konate and The Lost Tribe, is multi-national crew comprised
of Musa as lead guitar and lead vocalist; from the United States David
Sites on rhythm guitar/vocals and Austin Hein on bass. From the
Caribbean Island of Dominica Hughesly
Jno Baptist on drums, and from The Democratic Republic of Congo
Masolokele Nkiadianbu
on
vocals.
Musa
Konate and The Lost Tribe thrill their audience with electrifying
performances, musing them with an eclectic mix of musical styles ranging
from African—Soukouss, Makossa, and Mbalax to Caribbean—Reggae, Zouk,
Calypso, and Compa; with a touch of American—R&B, Jazz, and Rock.
For
Booking and contact info: Robert
Oyugi—303-415-1352
email:
ujama@interfold.com
