Answers: Bassekou Kouyate

Bassekou Kouyate. Photo by Thomas Dorn

Back in Cityfolk's E-Newsletter days, we would occasionally publish artists' answers to a few questions about themselves. It was a fun feature, and we've decided it's high time we brought it back!

Last night before his concert with his band Ngoni Ba, Bassekou Kouyate was kind enough to take a few minutes to answer our questions. Mille mercis to his tour manager for making this happen!

FAVORITE RECORDINGS: I love everything by Bela Fleck and Taj Mahal.

FAVORITE UP-AND-COMING YOUNG GROUP:Ngoni Ba Junior (which includes his own kids)

FAVORITE LIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCE (in the audience): I really enjoyed Seun Kuti's show in Bamako last year.

FAVORITE LIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCE (on stage): My first time in the USA, at a banjo festival in Tennessee! I had never seen something so big.

WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MAKING MY LIVING AS A MUSICIAN: It's the work I chose, and I like to meet a lot of different people, from all over the world.

 FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD:It's a local food from my village where I was born: it's called "To" [Note from Holly: it's a mixture made from meal that's turned into a dough and prepared in a number of different ways, but often fried.]

FAVORITE PASS-TIMES:I love watching action movies and growing vegetables in my back yard.

DREAM VACATION: My dream vacation is to rest in Garana, the village where I grew up, and stay for weeks without a phone, in silence and tranquility.