Global

Available Solo from Frusion, excluding Benelux and in association with management at Theatr Mwldan

Griot, praise singer, composer, djembe master, virtuoso, Kora player, pioneer?

Seckou Keita is a true master of his instrument, a childhood prodigy, born of a line of griots and kings (Keita is the royal lineage, and not traditionally a griot name). Cissokho, his mother's family name, gave life to his talent. His family includes Solo Cissokho, Seckou's uncle, who introduced him to the International stage in 1996.

A childhood of strict training and discipline was enforced by his Grandfather, a training that Seckou now recognises as a gift, saving him from a life travelled by some other musicians. In line with tradition, Seckou started his apprenticeship on the kora when he was seven years old. No one gave him lessons. He learned by close observation of all the many kora players and musicians in the household. And he learned quickly. Seduced by the diverse rhythms all around him, Seckou also set out to master a variety of drumming techniques: first the seourouba drums with teacher Souti Silamé, then djembe with 'Machine' Sylla and sabar with Pa Cor N'diaye. His talent and dedication soon brought him to the attention of the International music community.

He's toured with the Sierra Leonean musician, Francis Fuster, one time sidekick to Paul Simon, Miriam Makeba and Manu Dibango, and with Baka Beyond.

Fast forward 14 years and Seckou has proved himself to be a musician almost without equal in his field. A driven, talented musician, with a heart full of tradition and a mind driven to compose, invent and push boundaries, through collaboration, tunings and playing with the genres he understands so well.

Five successful album releases, both as solo artist, with his family and as a quartet and later a quintet

400 concerts in 30 countries with SKQ. Work with the Womad foundation that has seen him tour the world

Collaboration with Mamady Keita, the world's most recognised djembe talent, taken under his wing and seen as a natural successor

Several No 1s in the World Music charts

And, perhaps most notably, several nominations and awards for the outstanding collaboration with Catrin Finch, including fRoots album of the year, and Songlines best album 2014

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Seckou Keita