Fefanyi

Description

After years spent enhancing the music of the artists he accompanies with his guitar playing and the softness of his Kora (Ba Cissoko, Mariama, Jain and Gabi Hartmann among others), Abdoulaye Kouyaté channels his creative energy into a personal project that brings together his original compositions. In addition to being a virtuoso guitarist, we discover that Abdoulaye Kouyaté is a master of melodies and a singer with a hushed tone. Sometimes deep and touching, sometimes rhythmic and danceable, his mixed music oscillates between ballads, kora instrumentals, and tracks with afropop sounds borrowing their rhythm from coupé décalé, zouk, or the traditional yolé of Guinea. Abdoulaye entrusted the production of the album to Patrick Ruffino and is accompanied by Yannick Vela on bass and Nicolas Grupp on drums. The album is enriched by the valuable contributions of Fulani flutist Dramane Dembele, singer Gabi Hartmann, bassist Guy Nsangué, saxophonist Robbie Marshall, cellist Guillaume Latil, djembefola Dartagnan Camara, and the backing vocals of singer Djene Kouyaté. This first record displays an astonishing diversity. Sung in Soussou (the language of the Guinean capital, Conakry) and in French, several tracks are inspired by Abdoulaye's romantic youth in the Conakry of the 1990s-2000s. A time when he perfected his guitar playing by following the musicians of his neighborhood, animated wild expatriate parties with his band at the Grand Hotel Camayenne, and fell in love for the first time (Inondi, Doumedira, On fait quoi ? and Nitanama in particular). The Guinean carefreeness gives way to the jungle of Europe, adult life, responsibilities, the cold, and difficult lessons. These life lessons notably inspire the tracks Douniéma (the grudge holder), Saré (everything has a price), or Inamakana (if you cannot help your neighbor, do not push them down). The track Fefanyi (the benefactor), which gives the album its title, revives the tradition of griots, from whom the Kouyaté family descends, of "singing the praises" of great men, of generous benefactors.