From Côte d’Ivoire to Montréal, Kabey Konaté carries the voice of a modern griot. Born in the north of the country and raised in a family of musicians, he grew up surrounded by Manding rhythms and storytelling. After moving to Canada in 2017, he became a fixture of Montréal’s African music scene, performing at community festivals and cultural events.

“Tama”, the title track of his brand-new album, brings reggae rhythm into conversation with Manding percussion and kora lines, centred on the talking drum that gives the song its name.

Konaté sings in French, Mandinka, and Dyula, addressing migration, unity, and self-respect through verses that follow the griot storytelling form, alternating sung melody with spoken delivery. Behind him, bass and guitar hold a classic reggae frame while the tama and djembe drive the rhythmic thread of West Africa.

Produced in Montréal, Tama features Joyce N’Sana and Sébastien Lacombe, whose voices expand the album’s reach without diluting its message of unity and strength. Across ten songs, Konaté restores reggae’s African foundation through his voice, his drum, and his lived history.

Listen to “Tama”, the title track of Kabey Konaté’s new album, HERE