Toña – Kadialy Kouyate – Press Release
Toña, the 9th album from Senegalese kora virtuoso Kadialy Kouyate, releases worldwide on June 27th, 2025.
Kadialy Kouyate’s Toña, meaning ‘Truth,’ explores the concept that understanding and reflecting on the past allows us to fully embrace future opportunities. Our experiences, both personal and collective, shape our beliefs, values, and decisions. By revisiting past events with honesty and introspection, we gain insight into behaviour, learn from previous mistakes, and acknowledge the lessons that brought us growth. When we take time to reflect, we can let go of what no longer serves us and carry forward what strengthens us. Contemplation allows us to make sense of the journey, fostering self-awareness and emotional intelligence—qualities that ground us in the present and guide us toward a more intentional future.
Throughout Toña, Kadialy explores various topics and events from his life so far, imbuing the songs with lived experiences and bold musical expressions of the subject at hand. As he explains,
“Toña is like the diary of my own therapy sessions. Each song is like the outcome of my own truth on a certain topic—cultural upbringing, local traditions, migration, as well as more personal themes such as love and homesickness.”
The themes throughout the album are broad, much like Kadialy’s life and musical experiences. In Kana Cumbo, we hear a tender lullaby that speaks to the inner child within us all. We learn of the griot tradition (Kibaroh), explore the concepts of trust and responsibility (Karafoh), and visit the past to live the daring dreams of escaping slavery in Kana Dah.
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‘Nii meh ibo dula lon, iteh itah dula lonna’ 'If you don’t know where you’re coming from, you won’t know where you’re going.' |
We celebrate love and joy with the album’s first single, the upbeat Kanou Foro Ka Di, releasing June 6th, 2025. We then shift mood with Famo Keta, as Kadialy explores the feelings of homesickness and the absence of loved ones. Musolu Barata pays respect to the hard-working women of Senegal’s past and present, and Jambo Dongo celebrates important events from Mandinka culture, such as the initiation ceremonies Kadialy himself underwent as a child.
Emotional tones shift once more as Hameh Julo tells the tragic yet resilient tale of migration across the Atlantic, as poignant, powerful lyrics show the sacrifice of such journeys, while the composition’s buoyant, hopeful melodies mirror the strength and dreams of those seeking a brighter future.
We close with Ça Ira, a message of hope and encouragement for anyone facing difficult times. It reminds us of the importance of supporting one another and offering a helping hand to those in need. As Kadialy elaborates,
“This song is a familiar story for many of us and is about encouragement to take the next step. It almost comes full circle, bringing us back to Kana Cumbo’s message to keep believing in love and share it throughout the world.”
Kadialy Kouyate’s mesmerising kora skills are deeply rooted in his ancestral lineage. Born in southern Senegal within the rich cultural tapestry of the Mandinka people, Kadialy was raised in a family of Kouyate griots and immersed in the general practices of griot tradition from an early age. One such duty is to report historical and current events via oral transmission. Poets, musicians and storytellers, griots play an essential role in the communities of Kadialy’s homeland. With Toña, Kadialy Kouyate once again brings these revered traditions to the world music scene in his own inimitable style.
For further information please contact Amelia Zimmatore | amelia@arcmusic.co.uk | +44(0)1342 770478
ARC Music Productions Int Ltd, PO Box 111, East Grinstead, RH19 4FZ, UK | www.arcmusic.co.uk