Amadou Kouyate is the 150th generation of the Kouyate family of Manding Djeli (oral historians/musicians of West Africa) and the first generation born of his father’s lineage in America. Amadou performs a musical montage on the 21-string Kora and rhythmic presentations on Djembe and Koutiro drums. His repertoire ranges from traditional songs from the 13th century to contemporary original compositions incorporating blues and jazz worldwide.
Thus far, Amadou has had an illustrious career as both a performer and educator. He was an Adjunct Lecturer of African Music and Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland, director of the African Drum Ensemble, and Artist-In-Residence at Montgomery College of Rockville, and is now working at American University, Goucher College, and UMBC. Amadou is a multiple Grammy-nominated artist, an alum of the distinguished Artist-in-Residence program at the renowned Strathmore Music Center, a teaching artist at the Wolftrap Organization for the Performing Arts, and continues to present to audiences around the world.
This program is generously supported by Washington Gas
