Musician brings the sounds of Africa
Trevor Pellerite
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Entertainment
On Thursday, Nov. 19, NMU students will have an opportunity to experience a part of African culture that has been around for over 800 years, when musician Baye Kouyate, a griot from Mali, comes to campus.
The griot is a caste of Malian society that has served to perpetuate traditional songs and stories through oral performances. Their role has expanded from simply performing in their African villages to recording CDs and giving shows strictly for entertainment.
Born in Bamako, Mali, Kouyate knew from an early age that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a griot. It is an exclusive caste, one which a boy or girl (called griottes) can only be born into.
"You cannot just choose, you have to be born a griot," Kouyate said. "If your dad is griot, then you become griot."
Kouyate still has his family's original name from over 800 years ago and still fulfills his role in society. The original Griots were storytellers, praise singers and specialists in the oral tradition, and their knowledge is passed from generation to generation. Kouyate feels a strong connection between his job and that of his ancestors.
"We used to live in a life with no computer. And we used to live in a life with no light. Why we don't live the same thing, is things change. [Griots] bring the real thing about life to give to people," Kouyate said. He said he also hopes to get people to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds them. "We don't see it, we forgot, because there's something inside of this life that takes us away from that. That's why we always try to bring that power through to life."
Kouyate is coming to NMU as part of the International Performing Arts Series. According to Dan Truckey, director of the Beaumier Heritage Center, Kouyate's group was not originally slated to be a part of the 2009 series. Initially, Truckey had arranged for an Italian techno-rock group to come.
"We had specifically selected [a different group, but they had broken up] because we wanted something that would appeal to the younger audience," Truckey said.
The griot is a caste of Malian society that has served to perpetuate traditional songs and stories through oral performances. Their role has expanded from simply performing in their African villages to recording CDs and giving shows strictly for entertainment.
Born in Bamako, Mali, Kouyate knew from an early age that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a griot. It is an exclusive caste, one which a boy or girl (called griottes) can only be born into.
"You cannot just choose, you have to be born a griot," Kouyate said. "If your dad is griot, then you become griot."
Kouyate still has his family's original name from over 800 years ago and still fulfills his role in society. The original Griots were storytellers, praise singers and specialists in the oral tradition, and their knowledge is passed from generation to generation. Kouyate feels a strong connection between his job and that of his ancestors.
"We used to live in a life with no computer. And we used to live in a life with no light. Why we don't live the same thing, is things change. [Griots] bring the real thing about life to give to people," Kouyate said. He said he also hopes to get people to appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds them. "We don't see it, we forgot, because there's something inside of this life that takes us away from that. That's why we always try to bring that power through to life."
Kouyate is coming to NMU as part of the International Performing Arts Series. According to Dan Truckey, director of the Beaumier Heritage Center, Kouyate's group was not originally slated to be a part of the 2009 series. Initially, Truckey had arranged for an Italian techno-rock group to come.
"We had specifically selected [a different group, but they had broken up] because we wanted something that would appeal to the younger audience," Truckey said.
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