Originally from France and living in Quebec, Canada since 2004, singer and guitarist Romain Malagnoux met Moustafa Kouyaté during a trip to Mali in 2009. A virtuoso on the djeli n’goni, a small African guitar that is an ancient relative of the banjo, Moustafa learned to play from his father Bassékou Kouyaté, himself a world-renowned musician. Romain and Moustafa hit it off and recorded the album Les Frontières Imaginaires (Imaginary Borders), which they released in 2013.
The chemistry of the musical duo reveals itself through their clever and harmonious hybrid of melodies of traditional inspiration and folk rhythm. Listeners will note the influences of Bassékou Kouyaté, Habib Koité, and of Rodrigo & Gabriela. The album since won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Best World Music Band in 2014 and the Independent Music Award for the World Beat category in 2015.
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