BIOGRAPHY

Born in the Ivory Coast, Aboulaye Koné is the son of a griot. It is in Burkina Faso, the country where he grew up, that he has been learning during his childhood the rudiments of music through the practice of percussion and guitar. As an adult, he was quickly recognized by his peers and supported by big names in African music such as Les Go de Koteba, Sona tata Kondé, Fodé Kouyaté, Tiranké Sidibé, Bambino and Prince Djabaté.

When he arrived in Montreal in 2000, Aboulaye brought his know-how to Quebec with his original compositions and his interpretations of emblematic works of the West African repertoire. Versatile, he joined the François Bourassa ensemble, a Juno award-winning jazz band, and became the guitarist of Zal Idrissa Sissokho’s group Buntalo, which led him to play alongside several visiting African stars. 

Throughout his career he had the chance to perform in many memorable shows such as La Nouba at the Corona Theater, or the House Band of the Afrika Musique show under the direction of Eval Manigat, where he accompanied among others Lokua Kanza. In 2007 and 2008, he received recognition from the Canada Council for the Arts in Mandinka guitar and from the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec in African percussions.

In 2007, he participated in the creation of the work cooperative S’Temps d’Art Africain whose main mission is the transmission of African art. Aboulaye gives classes and workshops in different structures in Quebec. In 2009, he won the Syli d’Or de la Musique du Monde, from Productions Nuits d’Afrique. He composed the music for the show Enfant Baobab, winner of the 2010 Critics’ Choice Award.

In 2011, with the help of the Canada Council for the Arts, he launched his first CD: AfoGné, a sweet blend of three colors of the Mandinka. This album was nominated at the 2012 JUNO Awards in the category: Best World Music Album.