Yacine Badian Kouyate, PhD
 UC Davis, Co-Founder Birdland Jazzista
Scientist, Professor, 
Oakland - From Mali, West Africa
Dr. Yacine Badian Kouyate holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California at Davis, and a Master of Science in Genetics from Moscow State University in Russia.
Dr. Kouyate has conducted and published scientific research in academia and the biotechnology industry in the areas of plant virus interaction, genetics and immunodiagnostics including a patented method and device for HIV analysis and research.
A student of cultural history Dr. Kouyate stewards the wisdom and traditions of thousands of years of the Bambara and Dogon peoples.  As a consultant for the Timbuktu Educational Foundation, Dr. Kouyates compositions have been used in the documentary, “Timbuktu: The Untold Story”, produced in 2003, he Making of African Cinema a film about Sembene Ousmane and John Singleton, Rouch in the reverse by Manthia Diawara
A singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, performer and producer, Dr. Kouyate was a founding member of popular Davis band "Civil Rhythm"  in te late 80 S band at the forefront of the Anti Apartheid mouvement,
Dr kouyate has shared the stage with such music luminaries as Salif Keita, Toumani Diabate, Miriam Makeba, Khalil Shaheed, Eddie Marshal, Richard howel, Hugh Masakela and Cecil Taylor. Performance venues have included The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New York University, Yoshi’s in Oakland, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. the Fillmore etc....
His teaching and speaking engagements – on the music and spiritual traditions of Africa, microbiology, the intersections of ancient wisdom and modern science, and other topics – have taken him to Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, California Institute of Integral Studies, Mills College, Naropa Institute, New York University, Columbia University, Wisdom University to name a few.
Dr Kouyate is a faculty at World Indigenous Science Network an organization based in Lahaina Hawaii.

Mausiki Scales has been a force in the Atlanta indie music scene for almost two decades as a sought after keyboardist and founder/musical director of the critically acclaimed ensemble, the Common Ground Collective. Recently honored with the Georgia Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities, Mausiki is also a folklorist and historian who translates his knowledge into musical arrangements that leave his audiences moved and moving…literally.

Whether performing as a trio or a full 10-piece ensemble, Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective are known for taking fans on a fearless exploration of the pulsating rhythms of the African Diaspora, seamlessly connecting the dots between afrobeat, funk, hip hop, soul and New Orleans jazz…in a single performance. 

They have performed in numerous celebrations, concerts, and special events throughout Africa and the Americas, including Ghana's Golden Anniversary Celebration, the National Black Arts Festival, Funk Jazz Café, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. They have also collaborated with artists such as Roy Ayers, Babatunde Olatunji, Stevie Wonder, The Last Poets and Third World.

Together, Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective have released four albums, the most recent, Passages: The Water Brought Us, and they were recently featured on the Roy Ayers Fela-fied afrobeat version of Everybody Loves the Sunshine. This Spring, a new Mausiki Scales project, Drums and Shadows is scheduled for release, featuring the juke joint-invoking single, No Tables, No Chairs which has inspired an annual parade and party along the Atlanta BeltLine. Up next is a full album collaboration with Roy Ayers.

Imani Network is a media company showcasing the black cultural arts. We produce and distribute multidisciplinary art content that inspires the black community. Our productions include performance arts videos, broadcast programs and documentary features.

As an Author, Artist, Activist, and Motivational Speaker, Baba Ras D offers Creative Self Expression as an Alternative To Violence in a Celebration of Life through Movement and Songs of Love and Light!

NEW MUSIC COMING SOON!
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Creative Artist | OtherWorld Soul | Sound Synchronicity | Natural Time

Multi Platinum Artist, Songwriter, Producer

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