Alhaji Bai Konte

If you like this, visit koramusic.net to see Alhaji Bai Konte's grandsons continuing the family tradition - the Great Gambian Griots kora duet videos - from the grandsons of Alhaji Bai Konteh! 16mm film by Oliver Franklin and Marc Pevar. "Alhaji Bai Konte," depicts a day-in-the-life of the now-deceased Gambian Mandinka kora virtuoso, Alhaji Bai Konte, shot on location in Brikama, Gambia (plus one scene in Dakar, Senegal), West Africa, and narrated by world-famous bluesman Taj Mahal. The film was co-produced by Oliver Franklin and Marc Pevar, and filmed by Harold Yates and Lenore French and edited by Rob Wallace. Alhaji Bai Konte's son, Dembo Konte, accompanies in the performance, and various family members and friends make cameo appearances. His wife, Nafi Kouyate, appears in the final scene, praying. Kora is a 21-stringed harp unique to the Mandinka, played by Griots who are oral historians as well as musicians. This group of Mandinka preserve and propagate genealogical and historical information through song and story, and are a source of immense pride and identity to the Mandinka people. Alhaji Bai Konte was the first griot to introduce the kora widely throughout North America, where he toured major folk, jazz and blues festivals, gave private concerts and mingled with many professional musicians. His tours continued for seven years in the 1970's, often accompanied by Dembo Konte and Malamini Jobarteh, whose excellent musical skills were also a delight to their audiences. Alhaji Bai Konte appeared on TV and radio many times, most famously on the PBS TV series Jump Street, narrated by Oscar Brown Jr., and also on a historic NPR radio show recorded in Vermont, where he shared the stage with Elizabeth Cotton and Taj Mahal. That radio show aired for many years, with these iconic musicians representing the roots from Africa, the adaptation of kora picking styles to guitar, and the synthesis of the two fused into the modern era. Both Elizabeth Cotton and Taj Mahal acknowledged that their music and instrumental techniques arose from the Kora, which Pete Seeger also credited as the source of blues and Jazz. Alhaji Bai Konte performed with many musicians including: Taj Mahal, Elizabeth Cotton, The Paul Winter Consort, Tony Bird, Pete Seeger, David Amram and many other musicians. Alhaji Bai Konte's performances and media appearances opened the door to the American music market for the kora musicians who followed in his footsteps, and opened the minds of many Americans and musicians world-wide to the classical beauty of the kora, Gambian musicianship, the Griot culture, and the sophistication if this musical tradition that extends in time back 800 years to the era of the Mali Empire.

[@jj19961]

A rare quality content documentary film.

[@ashabirich1412]

I'm happy to see this as over the years, his album I had got away from me. In 1974 (maybe late '73), I had the chance to meet him when he performed at my first alma mater Swarthmore College, Speaking with him afterwards, i invited him and his manager/driver to my apartment in west Philadelphia at 63rd and Chestnut Sts. He agreeably accepted and I served them tea (not gunpower lol) before he left to rest and continue his schedule. He met a woman at the Arthur Hall Ile Ife Humanitarian Center, home of the famed Arthur Hall African American Dance Company, eventually finding a wife there who accompanied him back to Gambia to join his family and her co-wives.

[@priscillaraj7199]

very interesting

[@JochenVogel]

Thank You for sharing this gem!

[@lenorefrench8771]

so great to see this again after all these years!

[@imrb75]

What a beautiful treasure to our rich culture Alhaji Bai is a legend and that’s my Grandfather the late paramount Chief Sanjally Bojang

[@simonpenny2564]

I heard Alhaji Bai Konte's 1972 rounder album 40 years ago. It propelled me from Australia to West Africa to seek out kora music. I just discovered this short film, thankyou Mark Pevar. I've long been a follower of Taj Mahal, and his ethnomusicology and advocacy here is commendable. Alhaji Bai Konte's bearing and gentle wisdom is palpable. In these days of ignorant religious polarisation, everyone should see it. It is about much more than the music.

[@MarcPevar]

so true - to see Alhaji Bai Konte's grandsons carrying on the tradition go to koramusic.net

[@akandibao4833]

This is the maestro with his unique lyrics and style of playing the Kora, with son Dembo!

[@StarSpiritable]

Much gratitude for a job so well done in sharing the cultural icon, Alhaji Bai Konte. I had the priviledge of performing with Alhaji Bai Konte during his visit to Philadelphia and his showcase with the Arthur Hall Afro American Dance Ensemble.
Nana

[@renatedarin4160]

This music sends love to people all over the world. Thank you ... 💛

[@MarcPevar]

You can see his grandchildren continuing the tradition at koramusic.net

[@DavidGilden]

I got my first kora from Alhaji Bai Konte during his visit to Philadelphia back in 1978. In the following year I met his son(s) Dembo Konte and Malamini Jobarteh for my first Gambian kora lesson.
Thanks for posting, this brings back so many memories,
Dowda (Cora Connection)

[@fansudumbuya4842]

I am gald to hear that David you meet my player grandfather and his father. you can try his son in facebook yankuba conteh

[@edgarwhite8529]

Yes,Kora yes!

[@kemosinghateh2030]

Wonderful
History is people’s memory

[@leslieflamer6693]

WOW MEMORIES THIS MORNING AFTER PRAYER BAI WAS ON MY MIND SO I TYPED HIS NAME IN

[@abubacarrjagana7798]

is good to see our cultural music in here thank u so much for this

[@dirsame]

A Royal People the Mandinka play the best Music also- One Mandinka outside Africa is Kunta Kinte, a main figure in Alex Haley's book Roots and a subsequent TV mini-series. Haley claimed he was descended from Kinte

[@VincentWilkinKora]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@Atananaki]

Thanks a lot for this beautiful film

[@marcpevar9232]

Glad you enjoyed! Let your friends know. Alhaji Bai Konte was a wonderful person, far more than a master Griot. He was very learned in Koran, supported his wives and family in an exemplary way, helped many people who came for advice and guidance, and represented Gambia and the Mandinka tradition in the most positive way. He was a musician's musician, a gentleman and a source of pride for his tradition and people.

[@cwciastate]

I know its been said but thank you so much for maximizing access to this wonderful film. I use this film in my course on Africana Religious Experience at Iowa State University along with Muhammad Al-Ahari's "Five Classic Muslim Slave Narratives" to teach about the influence of West African culture and religion on American religious history.

[@SrNetsWalker]

Super Documentary images and sound... so thanks √

[@leslieflamer6693]

AND DISCOVERD THIS TEARS BEGAN TO ROLL !!!!!!

[@odedfried-gaon2880]

Incredible artist!
#OdedMusic #OdedFriedGaon #OdedInformation #Audioded

[@thetruthgmb]

Thank you mac for bringing back memories, I love this kind of films. Please post more of this kinds...

[@bajunkung]

thank you very much for this .

[@ansusinghateh8357]

thank you mac

[@ebsincamara2246]

E la kora diyata :)

[@laminsanyang20]

this are tge great pple that yahya jemmeh insulted, those whom show Gambia to the world with all respect and dignity nit by insulting and steeling poor pple money.

[@SM-vl9vl]

Lalo Kebba drame

[@alieuconteh6170]

❤

[@meganrobinson9986]

is there a link to the first song?

[@malansani75]

Malan sani

[@malansani75]

Bon nuit

[@katusyoung]

Not changed much !