Salimata Kouyate, her mother: singer Mah Bara Soumano, and Oumou Kouyate. Above: photo of Oumou's mother, Amy
These two first cousins are the daughters of two well-known musical brothers, Bassekou & Andra Kouyate: two virtuoso composers and players of the , an ancient lute which is the ancestor of the banjo. ngoni They grew up in Garana (see family 7) and moved to Bamako some 20 years ago, although they and their families go back and forth between the two places. The mothers of these two girls are Ami Sacko, and Mah Bara Soumano, respectively, both highly successful singers in their own right. Bassekou is one of Mali’s most solicited musicians and tours regularly abroad with his band Ngoniba. Both Oumou and Sali were finalists in the 2009 Ministar, the popular annual Malian TV show where children under the age of 12 compete for best music performance.
Andra Kouyate (Salimata's father) teaching ngoni to his children