Mory Kanté

Mory Kanté is best known for the song Yé ké yé ké which proved one of Africa’s best-selling hits.

He plays the Kora harp and blends traditional West African music with Western pop, funk, house and techno.

Kanté was born into a family of griots – a caste of poets, singers and storytellers in traditional Mandingo culture – in Guinea. He has played across the globe and performed in several movie soundtracks, including for the film The Beach.

He has dedicated much time and energy to cultural and social initiatives in Western Africa.

Kanté was appointed an FAO Goodwill Ambassador in 2001. “I will work with people of different cultures and will travel to different countries to give people the possibility to help each other,” he said. “The whole world needs to mobilize against hunger and poverty.”

Kanté’s contributions have included dedicating a fundraising concert in Finland to FAO, performing in other concerts in Italy and Mali, and attending a World Food Summit at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.