Yakou Daniel N’GUESSAN is a versatile percussionist originally from Côte d’Ivoire, now
making his mark in Atlanta, GA. Starting his musical journey in church choral societies, he
earned a master’s in Contemporary Jazz and Music Production from INSAAC in 1999. With
a unique fusion of African folk rhythms and various global music genres, Yakou has been
captivating audiences since 1995.
His career highlights include collaborations with world-renowned musicians such as
Russell Gun, Lionel Giles Louéké, Paco Emmanuel Séry, Dez Gad (Jazz Caravan), Lori
Williams, Jorge Garcia, Wendy Moten, Jody Mayfield, William Green, Mausiki Scales & The
Common Ground Collective, Bradie Speller, Ron Helman, Majid Bekkas, Issam Kamal,
Mahmoud Choukri, Too Many Peachtree Streets, Kaya’s Embrace, to name only a few ….
Yakou is also deeply involved in the local music scene, working with many Atlanta-based
artists to create rich and innovative sounds. A recipient of the prestigious Berklee African
Scholarship in 2007, Yakou has taken part in many album projects and festivals around the
world, from Africa to the Middle East and Asia. Since moving to the USA, he has continued
to electrify audiences in jazz clubs, festivals, and beyond with his distinctive drumming
style.
