His unexpected mega-hit, “Yé ké yé ké”, dominated European charts in the ‘80s, reincarnated in the subsequent decade as a successful club remix—but Mory Kante has gone beyond that into instrumentally chiseling the international identity of African music. Building on his musical training between his native Guinea and Mali, he is a true representative of the respected griot tradition in West Africa, bringing forth traditional instruments like the balafon or experimenting with the electric kora. Here's an introductory guide to his multifaceted musical heritage.