Music star Mory Kanté laid to rest in Guinea

Mory Kanté was of one West Africa's best-known musicians (AFP)

Hundreds of people have gathered to mourn the death of Guinean singer and kora master Mory Kanté, one of West Africa's biggest stars.

Kanté, who helped bring African music to world audiences with hits like Yéké Yéké, died last week at the age of 70.

Eyewitnesses reported severe breaches of social distancing regulations as people scrambled to catch a glimpse of his casket in the capital, Conakry.

A pre-burial ceremony in the grounds of a local hospital was attended by ministers, diplomats and fellow musicians.

The body was later laid to rest at a cemetery in Conakry following Islamic religious rites.

Photos and footage from the events in Conakry have been shared on social media:

#Deuil

Décédé le vendredi 22 mai dernier à Conakry des suites d'une longue maladie , Mory Kanté surnommé le griot a la Kora électrique à rejoint sa dernière demeure ce mardi 26 mai 2020

Que son âme repose en Paix 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/RjChAILsCu
— Abidjan.net (@abidjan_net) May 26, 2020

Le cortège funéraire de l’immense griot Mory Kante ce matin à Conakry. pic.twitter.com/VBfHW6QYZH
— aboubacar camara (@aboubac91618708) May 26, 2020

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