Kouri Simplé

Introduction

Kouri Simplé, whose real name was Ibrahima Taifan Camara, is a Guinean singer-songwriter and artist born in Conakry in 1999. Born in a Muslim family, he swam from an early age into a musical universe thanks to his mother, who performed songs during religious ceremonies. The young Kouri was charmed by her beautiful voice and accompanied her during her performances. This is how his passion for singing was born, a passion that led him to become known in the musical landscape of Guinea and to know a growing success over the years.

Childhood and Education

Born and raised in the popular Entag neighborhood of Conakry, Kouri Simplé grew up in a united family where religion prevailed. From an early age, he was fascinated by the melodies that his mother played during religious services. Very attached to the latter, he accompanied her wherever she occurred, delighting in her crystal-clear voice.

Although Kouri liked to listen to his mother singing, he did not yet see himself as a future artist. His childhood dream was to become a professional footballer. He excelled in the fields of his neighborhood and hoped that one day he would be able to live out of his passion for the round ball. Along with his schooling, he trained hard, determined to his goal.

Carrier start

It was finally in college that Kouri's artistic fiber truly awoke. In the tenth grade, as his football ambitions diminished, his voice began to become noticeable. His comrades were seduced by his timbre and encouraged him to perform on every occasion, convinced that he had a promising future in music.

Although flattered by these encouragement, Kouri still did not see himself as an artist of the future. He liked singing, but regarded it as a hobby, nothing more. However, he readily accepted to perform at school events, increasingly enjoying being on stage.

Supports

While Kouri was finishing school, his friends kept pushing him to devote himself fully to music. They were overwhelmed by his talent and his scenic presence, convinced that he had all the qualities to break through this path.

Their unwavering support was decisive in Kouri's decision to finally embrace a musical career. In 2018, after graduating from high school, he decided to try his luck and record his first studio compositions.

Musical Career and Success

Kouri Simplé's first steps in the music industry were marked by the release in 2018 of his very first single entitled "M'mah Style". A title with urban and dynamic sounds that was very well received by the Guinean Meloman public. It was also thanks to this piece that the young artist became known in some localities of the country.

With this first success, Kouri decided to participate in 2019 in a competition to detect the new musical talents of Guinea. Organized by the television channel Evasion TV, the competition brought together more than a hundred grassy artists. Against all expectations, the authenticity of his voice and his scenic charisma allowed Kouri to raise the first place, making the pride of his hometown.

It was as a result of this victory that Kouri Simplé's career really took off. He was spotted by Levi Bobo, a renowned producer of the Guinean music scene, who did not hesitate to offer him a recording contract. Kouri seized this unexpected opportunity and began working on his first studio album, "Amoubalanma", which was released in 2020.

The critical and public reception of this opus was dithyrambique. The melodies of both modern and traditional influences attracted a wide audience. Kouri's emotional texts, dealing with social themes such as polygamy and forced marriages, found a deep echo among Guineans. A complete artist, Kouri Simplé was now one of the rising values of the national musical scene.

Discography

Albums

• Amoubalanma (2020)
• Maaya Moussow (2022)

Singles

• M'mah Style (2018)
• Khawon Moulan'ma (2020)
• La Paix du Cœur (2020)
• Dembaya (2020)
• Dissan (2022)
• Adama (2022)

Collaborations et Featurings

• Fuléfoulé (feat. Moussa Camara) (2021)
• Diaguiya (feat. Levi Bobo) (2022)
• Tourasi (feat. Sia Tolno) (2023)

Tours

The success of his first album allowed Kouri Simplé to be invited to the most popular radio, television and festivals in Guinea. Between 2020 and 2021, he broke the roads of the country to promote his opera, performing somewhat everywhere in the country.

This national tour was a real triumph with archicomble rooms at each performance. The Guineans, seduced by the energy cultivated on the stage, took in choir each of the tubes of their new favorite singer. This popular dedication was for Kouri the most beautiful of the rewards after years of hard work.

Galvanized by this success, Kouri quickly resumed the work on the profession, preparing the release of his second project "Maaya Moussow" which is expected in 2022. An opus in line with the previous one, rich in engaging melodies, which the artist had the opportunity to defend during a new pan-African tour in the summer of 2023.

Private life

The relationship between Kouri Simplé and his mother is most fusionary. One of the most important people in his life is still the one who brought him from the cradle with his religious songs. Proud of her son's achievements, she continued to support him and encourage him to pursue his musical dreams.

Kouri worships an eternal recognition to this woman of an uncommon inner strength. It was thanks to her and the values she instilled in him that he became the man and the accomplished artist he is today. In his interviews, Kouri never missed an opportunity to highlight the decisive role that his mother played in his success.

Conclusion

At just 24 years old, Kouri Simplé is already one of the most striking faces of the new Guinea musical generation. A talented author-composer, his rich and profound writing allows him to accurately approach the social realities of his country, while his federative melodies with multiple influences earned him a resounding success among the public.

Far from wanting to rest on his laurels, this complete and passionate artist continues to work to radiate the Guinean culture through his music, carried by values of openness, tolerance and self-acceptance. There is no doubt that over the next few years, Kouri Simplé will inscribe his name on the firmament of the greatest stars of African music. A most promising future for anyone who, as a child, only dreamed of scoring goals on the grounds of his hometown of Entag.