Kankou Kouyate is the niece of the N'Goni genius Bassekou Kouyate. One of the most respected Griot families in Mali; growing up surrounded with music, descendent from generations of the best N'goni players in the country, she became the music student of her uncle Cheick Oumar Diabate at the age of ten. With "N'Darila", her first solo album, Kankou goes back to her roots.