N’Faly Kouyaté Finishes Tour in Brussels

Why this is here: Kouyaté arrived in Belgium thirty years ago on a music scholarship, a plan altered by political changes in his home country of Guinea.

Multi-instrumentalist N’Faly Kouyaté concludes his Finishing tour at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium. Kouyaté began his musical journey in Guinea before arriving in Belgium on a music scholarship thirty years ago. Political shifts in Guinea unexpectedly led him to study at a Belgian conservatory, launching his career.

His latest album, Finishing, blends traditional West African music with classical, jazz, and electronic influences. Kouyaté explains the title refers not to an end of his career, but to a hopeful end to global hardship.

Kouyaté identifies as a griot—a musician, storyteller, and messenger—and hopes to spread peace and understanding through his music. He feels adopted by Belgium while remaining connected to his Guinean roots, making Brussels a meaningful place to end the tour. The AB concert coincides with the celebration of the African Union, emphasizing collaboration between Africa and Europe, though Kouyaté acknowledges political action rarely mirrors the harmony found in music.