Wassa Kouyaté: Bamako's Queen of the Kora is set to perform live in Nairobi!

This year, audiences in Nairobi will have a rare opportunity to experience one of West Africa’s most captivating musical artists live in concert. Acclaimed Malian singer, composer, and kora player Wassa Kouyaté is bringing her electrifying blend of Manding tradition, jazz, and blues to the Kenya National Theatre on the 4th of July, 2026 for a special live performance that promises to transport audiences straight into the soul of Bamako.

Born in 1998 into a renowned griot family in southern Mali, Wassa Kouyaté grew up immersed in the rich oral and musical traditions of the Manding people. From childhood, she was fascinated by the kora, the iconic 21-string West African harp known for its hypnotic and deeply emotional sound. Traditionally, the instrument has been dominated by male musicians, and for generations women were discouraged from playing it professionally. Rather than accepting those limitations, Wassa forged her own path, becoming one of the world’s leading female kora players.

She began her musical training through piano (steering away from the kora at first because of cultural restrictions) before joining the Conservatoire Balla Fasséké de Mali, where she trained under legendary kora master Madou Sidiki Diabaté -  the musical director for Salif Keïta and brother to the iconic Toumani Diabaté.

Wassa has collaborated with internationally respected artists and projects, including Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Dobet Gnahoré, Fatoumata Diawara, and Naïny Diabaté’s Kaladjula Band. She has performed in countries ranging from Guinea and Rwanda to Belgium, Japan, and the United States, proudly carrying Malian culture onto global stages.

Wassa Kouyaté is the recipient of the Femme Kora Trophy, and in 2025 she received a distinction from the Réseau des Jeunes Femmes Leaders d’Afrique (REFA) for her contribution and leadership. She also served as a representative for UNICEF Mali between 2022 and 2023, promoting education and Malian culture.

For Nairobi audiences, this concert is more than simply a live performance. It is an encounter with one of the most exciting voices emerging from contemporary West African music today!

Tickets are available on Mookh, at this link.