Winners of World Music prizes « Gold » 2009 « Syli d’or » (percussion) and « Silver » 2008 « Syli d’Argent (electric), Aboulaye Koné Moriké and group Bolo Kan have now cut their first CD, bringing together all the delights of mandinka. The CD offers three variations on the same style, with three colours of mandinka: a hint of percussion to awaken the ancestors, just enough electric to tickle modern Africa, and a bit of acoustic to recreate the gentle mood of a chat beneath a baobab tree Aboulaye Koné Moriké, born in Côte d’Ivoire, is the son of a griot, a troubadour/storyteller. His uncle Djeli Baba Kienou, in Burkina Faso, introduced him to music. Aboulaye is an accomplished percussionist and a virtuoso mandinka guitarist who has accompanied such artists as Les Go de Koteba, Adama Dramé and Kandia Kouyaté. After arriving in Montreal in 2000, he continued evolving as an artist. A versatile musician, he joined the Opus-, Félix- and JUNO Award-winning Ensemble François Bourassa. He has played guitar with Zal Idrissa Sissokho’s group Buntalo, and with a number of African stars including Fodé Kouyaté, Bambino and Prince Djabaté. He composed the music for the children’s show Baobab, which received the 2010 critics’ award.