Heir to the tradition of the Griots -storytellers, poets and musicians who served for centuries as guardians of West African cultural heritage- Ousmane was an innovator of the modern electric Mandingue sound. Alongside Mory Kanté & Kanté Manfila with Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako and later on the Abidjan relocated band Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Ousmane forged his career before he served malian singer Salif Keita as his guitarist for more than three decades. A few years of touring got Ousmane to focus on his own compositions. “Kefimba” named after the all-black bull from his childhood with whom he had shared his Manioc meal and “N’Ny” were recorded at the esteemed JBZ Recording Studio in Abidjan. Initially released on cassette they made it to vinyl in 1982 and 1983. Just a few months after the Leon Keita release, Analog Africa now presents Ousmane Kouyaté’s two funk-infused Mandingue gems from the early 1980s, meticulously restored, pressed on 180g pink colored virgin vinyl, and housed in a beautiful screen-printed jacket. Limited to 2000 copies worldwide, this LP promises to set dancefloors ablaze with its infectious rhythms.
