Amu Les Griots is an association founded by Ombretta Moschella — vice-president of Ayzoh! — and Zouratié Koné, master percussionist and griot. From its two main bases, in Belgium and Burkina Faso, Amu Les Griots works to preserve, teach, and share the living heritage of West African cultures through music, dance, rhythm, and ritual.
Their workshops and events create spaces where generations meet and exchange knowledge. Through rhythm and movement, the organization fosters inclusion, cultural awareness, and collective well-being. As seen in the photos and video presented here, the energy of their work is not performative—it’s participatory.
A Permanent Workshop in Oral Cultures
At the heart of Amu Les Griots is a long-term educational project focused on African rhythms. Here, oral transmission replaces written instruction. Learning is embodied, collective, and deeply rooted in traditional ritual. This model doesn’t just teach technique. It sustains a cultural practice, reinforcing identity, connection, and resilience.
The association also offers vocational training in cultural project management, responding to the need for skills that bridge art, education, and international cooperation. President Ombretta Moschella brings long-standing expertise in managing transnational cultural initiatives.
Flagship Initiatives
Some of Amu Les Griots’ core programs include: literacy through music and movement, using Griot traditions and rhythms as an access point for education; summer workshops on West African rhythms and Afro Jazz Mandingue, in collaboration with the Royal International Summer Academy of Wallonia (AKDT).
These are not showcases—they’re immersive spaces where knowledge is passed on through doing, listening, and repeating, just as it has been for generations.
Zouratié Koné
Zouratié Koné is a master percussionist, composer, singer, and maker of traditional instruments. Born into a family of griots in Bobo Dioulasso, and shaped by time spent in Mali and Ivory Coast, he holds deep knowledge of the Mandingo musical tradition.
He is known for his work with: Djembe, dumdum, tama, longa, kora, ngoni, and balafon knowing hundreds of traditional rhythms and songs from West Africa, learned and taught through oral tradition
Zouratié’s path continues to evolve. His recent projects include: Diurukuma Beat with Malian griot Kandiafa (Toli Toli). Electro Mandingo Groove, a fusion project with producer Pietro Nicosia, launched in 2019 (Sogni, Orianna/Sony Music, 2020), ZKE! Zouratié Koné Ensemble, a long-standing project dedicated to Afro Jazz Mandingue, Afrikan Protokol, a Belgian Afro-jazz sextet, theatre collaborations (e.g. Mimi’s Shebeen), performances with artists like Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Oumou Sangaré
Since 2017, Zouratié is co-artistic director of Amu Les Griots and leads its activities between Europe and West Africa. Since 2021, he is also the artistic and creative director of Electro Mandingo Records, an independent music label.
