Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

Gambia

Birth

:

1950 in Gambia

Genre

:

Film

 

Foday Musa Suso is a renowned Gambian musician and composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on May 22, 1950, in Sarre Hamadi, Gambia, Suso grew up in a family of griots, who are traditional West African musicians and storytellers. His father, Jali Alieu Suso, was a master kora player, and his mother, Fatou Jobe, was a singer. Suso learned to play the kora, a 21-stringed harp-lute, from his father at a young age and began performing with him in public. Suso's musical talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly became a sought-after musician in Gambia. He was also interested in exploring other musical genres, and he began experimenting with fusion music, blending traditional West African music with jazz, blues, and other styles. In 1977, Suso moved to the United States to pursue his musical career further. In the US, Suso continued to experiment with fusion music, collaborating with jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders, and Jack DeJohnette. He also formed his own group, the Mandingo Griot Society, which blended traditional West African music with jazz and funk. The group released several albums, including "Mandingo Griot Society" (1983), "Watto Sitta" (1986), and "The Hunter" (1989). Suso's music received critical acclaim, and he became a respected figure in the world of classical music. He was invited to perform at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. He also collaborated with classical musicians such as the Kronos Quartet, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his musical career, Suso was also a respected educator and cultural ambassador. He taught at several universities, including the University of Washington, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan. He also served as a cultural ambassador for the US State Department, promoting West African music and culture around the world. Suso's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with several awards and honors. In 1990, he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the highest honor given to traditional artists in the US. He was also awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1995 and a Fulbright Fellowship in 2003. Suso's music continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world. His fusion of traditional West African music with jazz and other styles has paved the way for a new generation of musicians who are exploring the boundaries of classical music. Suso's legacy as a musician, educator, and cultural ambassador is a testament to the power of music to bridge cultural divides and bring people together.

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