Mamadou Konté, a Senegalese music producer who became a global ambassador for African music, died at the age of 65, a member of his entourage announced.
Konté, founder of an international music festival that helped boost the careers of some of the continent’s best-known singers, died on June 20 at a hospital in Dakar from an undisclosed illness, Lamine Fall said.
He was instrumental in popularising African music in France when he founded the Africa Fete music festival in 1978. Several editions of the festival were also held in the United States.
Africa Fete went on to become a record label, helping to launch the careers of some of Africa’s biggest stars, including Salif Keita, Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour, Papa Wemba and Simon Mahlatini.
A long-time resident of Paris, Konté returned to Senegal in the late 1990s to establish Tringa, a cultural centre for young Senegalese artists.
He was awarded a Chevalier des Arts and Lettres by the government of France in 1992. — Sapa-AFP