Before becoming this international hit in 1987, due to its strong dance and pop arrangements (aka Manding Funk), Yekeke is a folk/traditional Guinean song.
It was first revisited in a tradi-modern style by Mory’s half-brother & griot Djeli Moussa Diawara on his first solo album (known as “Yasimika” – recorded in Abidjan in 1982).
Update 05/22/2020: RIP Mory Kanté, dead today (70yo)