Dejly Tapa is a Montreal-based singer and songwriter. She was born and raised in the Kayes region of western Mali to an illustrious family of griots (djely in the Malinké language – heirs to century-old artistic traditions). Her mother, Kandia Kouyaté is renowned as one of the great contemporary voices in Mali, and her father, Djely Bouya Diarra was a legendary dancer and singer. Tapa grew up singing, dancing, and telling stories just like her parents.

Tapa left the Kayes region for Bamako at age 11 and began focusing rigorously on her studies. As a young adult, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science, and dreamed of becoming an airline pilot. Soon after, she settled in Montreal to study mechanical engineering and aeronautics at the École Polytechnique. Her dream did not come to fruition, and since the African community in Montreal lacked a female ‘griot’ (storyteller), she followed in her mother’s footsteps and began performing as a musician.

She quickly linked up with a community of musicians and became involved with several groups such as Zal Sissokho and the Cirque Kalabanté, and as lead vocalist with the group Afrikana Soul Sisters. At that same time, she directed several projects that allowed her to preserve and promote classical Mandingo traditions, and to explore diverse artistic approaches. After a decade of performing, she embarked on a solo career in 2018. She soon met Chadian artist Caleb Rimtobaye, now known as AfrotroniX, who would become her greatest friend and collaborator.

AfrotroniX produced Tapa’s debut album, Barokan in 2019 along with Eli Levinson. The album featured 11 pieces, sung in the Mandinka, Bambara, and Kassonke languages, and are imbued with Afro-futurism, invoking elements of African blues, the vibrations of Sahel, and electronic fusion. Barokan received the 2020 Juno Award for Best Album in the World Music category and was named the 2019-2020 Radio-Canada Revelation in World Music. A deluxe version of the album was released in Europe in 2020, with a scheduled tour to follow that was unfortunately postponed by the pandemic.

Tapa has shared the stage with the likes of Sylvie Desgroseillers, Patrice Michaud, Oumou Sangare, Tonana, Moustafa Kouyaté, and Romain Malagnoux. She has performed in two European and International tours with the world-famous group, Les Amazones d’Afrique, and has performed live at Radio-Canada’s Studio 12, as well as the Olympia in Paris.

Her most recent release was a single entitled “Le sais-tu?” (2022) produced by Jean Massicotte and is about how the struggles for the respect of women’s rights, their unconditional freedom, and their integrity are embedded within a woman’s daily life throughout the world.

Tapa’s message is one of strength and hope. She is a spokesperson for several causes, especially those that promote gender equality and support women of African descent.

Awards

• 2020 Juno for Best Album in World Music