IN SHORT

Born in 1966 in Conakry, Fatoumata Kouyaté grew up in a large family of griots, or traditional musicians. Initially a hairdresser, she began performing at weddings with her father. When he died, she fully embraced the art of playing the balafon, the traditional Guinean instrument that she also introduced to her children. Meeting her manager helped this multidisciplinary artist fulfil her dream: to launch her own company of griot women.