The Mamaya African Jazz Ensemble

Mamaya African Jazz fuses the melodic and rhythmic sounds of West African kora music with sultry improvisation of the saxophone and flute; enclosed with soothing sounds on keyboard, guitar, and bass; accented by the rhythmic pulsation of djembe, congas and trap drums; and melodic overlays of vocals. Kouyate's blending of the classical with the contemporary creates a jazzy African blend that pulsates through the body to the soul. Mamaya leader Djimo Kouyate is a diali, oral historian and a master musician of the 21-string kora of Manding West African traditions. He is a descendent from the Kouyate family of griots who have honored West Africa for centuries. For the past two decades, Djimo Kouyate has shared his culture and innate musical mastery with countless communities and people of all ages in the metropolitan area and nationally.

Mamaya leader Djimo Kouyate is a diali, oral historian and a master musician of the 21-string kora of Manding West African traditions. He is a descendent from the Kouyate family of griots who have honored West Africa for centuries. For the past two decades, Djimo Kouyate has shared his culture and innate musical mastery with countless communities and people of all ages in the metropolitan area and nationally.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Mamaya African Jazz creates a unique blend with traditional West African and contemporary jazz musicians that together create a new soul enlightening sound that moves your spirit to dance.

In creating Mamaya music, Kouyate describes that each of the instruments played represents one of the Manding traditions: the bass guitar represents the bolon, the lead guitar represents the dosonkoning, the congas represents the bougourabou, the flute is typical of African flutes, the various sounds of the saxophone are very much like the horn style call bigno. The various sounds, lyrics and compositions retain the dynamic energy and manner of celebrating all members of society, elders, children, men and women, from its African roots, while incorporating western musical approaches, fused together as a vibrant expression of African jazz and highlife.

Mamaya African Jazz Artists

Djimo Kouyate, kora & vocals
Joe Yanovitch, guitar
Roland J. Queen, saxophone
Didier Prossaird, keyboard
Jay Turner, bass
Sais Kamalidin, flute
Mark St. Pierre, trap drums
Amadou Kouyate, djembe drums
Imani Gonzalez, vocals
Aisha Jackson, vocals