Manding-Ko [Digipak]

As the very first release on the Frikyiwa label, this voice-and-kora duo remains a timeless classic. With Hadja Kouyaté on vocals and Ali Boulo Santo on kora, the album achieves a perfect balance-subtle, gentle, and deeply rooted in Mandingue culture and the virtuoso art of the griots. It also features a remarkable guest appearance by Manfila Kanté, the historic guitarist of Salif Keita. Essential listening.""Her airy, luminous voice, shifting in tone and color, reveals the fascination of a vocal style at the crossroads of Black Africa, the Orient, and the Mediterranean."" - Répertoire, Luigi Elongui""Endowed with a singular power, Hadja Kouyaté's voice also knows how to modulate itself to reach those moments where emotion transcends language and goes straight to the listener's core. Superb."" - Mondomix, Magali Bergès