Andra is part of a large family of griots in Mali. In 1997, he joins two bands, the band of Fantani Toure, with whom he records the album ’N’TIN NAARI’ and Rokia Traoré’s band with whom he participates on the three albums MOUNEÏSSA’, ’WANITA’ and ’BOWMBOI’. He tours with Rokia Traore for eight years. During the same period Andra Kouyaté also plays regularly with Toumani Diabaté and Ali Farka Toure. In 2005 he creates the group ’Ngoni Ba’ with his brother Bassekou Kouyate. They record the album ’SEGU BLUE’ and enter into successful tours throughout the world. Andra participates on Habib Koité’s album ’AFRIKI’ and the album ’RED EARTH’ by Dee Dee Bridgewater. Christophe Minck calls on him for the album ’KIRIKOU AND KARABA’ directed by Michel Ocelot. Andra is also contributing to the albums ’SEYA’ by Oumou Sangare, ALU MAYE’ by Leni Stern, Tiken Jah Fakoly’s album ’AFRICAN REVOLUTION’ and ’CINEMA EL MUNDO’ the new Lo’Jo album.
In 2007 Andra Kouyaté, Andreas Fulgosi and Baba Konaté form a group called Raaga Trio, an exciting encounter between the traditional music of West Africa and experimental jazz. In 2010 Raaga Trio releases its debut album ’THE OTHER EDGE’ on the label AnotherShapeRecords.
In 2012 Andra releases his first album ’SARO’ in Mali with a plethora of great artists of the region, including Amadou & Mariam, Mah Bara Soumano and Bassekou Kouyate.
In 2013, he records a CD with the duo Deltas. Andra is currently touring with Tiken Jah Fakoly and Deltas.
Andra Kouyaté invented and built an altogether new instrument: the bass n’goni, a sort of African double bass. This invention allowed him to develop a new way of playing, quite different from the traditional n’goni playing. His command of n’goni, bass n’goni and tama are truly exceptional, both melodically and rhythmically, thanks to his Mandingo tradition inspiration. Through an impressive creativity, Andra Kouyaté shows how traditional instruments can be played without any limitation in the most various musical styles.
