| Bai Konte | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bai Konte |
| Also known as | Alhaji Bai Konte (after his pilgrimage to Mecca) also Alhaji Bai Konteh |
| Born | 1920 The Gambia |
| Died | 1983 Brikama, Sanchaba, The Gambia |
| Genres | West African (World music, Folk music) |
| Occupations | Singer, genealogist, Kora player, historian, |
| Instruments | kora |
| Years active | 1973 (big break) to 1983 |
| Associated acts | Dembo Konte, Malamin Jobarteh. |
Alhaji Bai Konte (b. 1920; d. 1983) was a jali (praise singer) from Brikama, Gambia. His father Burama Konte was the one who composed the Anthem [Boom] of the 19th century Senegambian hero Mansumaneh Yundum. It was from that anthem that the anthem of Sheriff Sidi Hydara as well as Nyansu Mbasse originated from. Burama Konteh was a well known kora player of his generation. [1]
Following in the footstep of his father, Bai Konte also played the 21-string kora and is believed to have been the first kora player to perform and tour in the United States as a soloist, playing at the 1973 Newport Jazz Festival. (Les Ballets Africains, a dance and music group from Guinea, had first performed in the U.S. in 1959, and featured a kora player.)[2]
His sons Dembo Konte and Sherrifo Konteh (sic) live in Brikama, Gambia. Two LP recordings have been released of Alhaji Bai Konte with Dembo Konte and Malamini Jobarteh (Ma Lamin Jobarteh). Jali Sherrifo Konteh has released two CDs, 'Mansalou' and 'Chesano', and tours the UK most years.
Contents |
1982 - with Dembo Konte & Malamini Jobarteh, Kora Music and Songs from The Gambia, recorded/produced Ken Day & Lucy Duran, 1982, Virgin Records