Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

KONTE, Lamine

(b Kolda, Senegal) Singer-composer, guitarist, kora player. From musical family; studied kora with his father Dialy Keba Konte, then with Souldiou Cissoko, a kora player of international repute. Studied at the School of Arts in Dakar, practising every day to create his own style; by '60 had formed his own group with friends and had established a national reputation as a contemporary artist, introducing new infl. while also maintaining trad. of Senegalese music. He represented Senegal at the Black Arts Festival in Dakar '65; moved to Paris '72 but the group broke up, leaving him to pursue a solo career. He made two LPs '75: La Kora du Senegal: les Rythmes, les Percussions et la Voix de Lamine Konte featured solo kora tracks with trad. arr. and a few Afrocuban tunes; Les Rythmes, les Percussions et la Voix de Lamine Konte with more adventurous arr. of kora, balaphon, bass, tam-tam and vocals. Eclectic Tinque Rinque '77 was a pot-pourri of kora, rock'n'roll and folk music with both acoustic and electric lineups. After LP Baara '79 he worked with Bozambo on soundtrack of film Bako l'Autre Rime. Songs Of The Griots released '95 on JVC CD. Less commercial than his fellow Senegalese Toure Kunda and Youssou N'Dour, he is a musician of outstanding technical ability.