It is from the borders of what was once known as Upper Volta, now called Burkina Faso, that Farafina’s music originates. Authentic music derived from the dances and lyrics of jelis and from the passion of one man, Mahama Konate, who left the group in 1991.

Konate was a former member of the National Ballet of Upper Volta and formed Farafina in 1978, performing in West Africa. Four years later, 1982, during their first European tour, Farafina was warmly received by a public, which was dazzled by so much virtuosity and creativity. The most predominant feature of Farafina’s music is its subtle blend of binary and ternary rhythms which are produced by the complex beats of the percussion, the no less sophisticated motifs of the bala and the kora, the melodies of the Falani flute and the vocals.

All the crucial in Africa in terms of music can be found at the heart of Farafina’s work. The rich polyphonic, polyrhythmic blend does not leave the listener indifferent, highlighting as it does all the essential foundations of West Africa’s musical heritage.

Farafina is also a school. In Bobo-Dioulasso, young people are trained by older, experienced musicians, and also benefit from the international experience of Farafina. It is the same sharing of musical knowledge which has led the current line-up to integrate western influences into their own sound to appeal to increasingly wider audiences.

Reinvented by encounters with modernity, Manding influences, the music of Burkina Faso’s neighboring countries, the melodies of the people of Mali, Niger and the legends of Kong and the chants and drums of Ghana and Benin, all contribute to the richness of Farafina’s s work.

Farafina has collaborated with top international musicians. In 1989, the band was invited as a guest to play on the Rolling Stone's Steel Wheels album. The band also collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto and composer Jon Hassell.

Eight male musicians, dancers and singers and one female singer and dancer compose Farafina. Their instruments are: the bala (West African xylophone), jembe, Kora, bara, tama (talking drum), doum’doum, shekere, and one keyboard.

The music of Farafina is the sound of Africa dancing as it marches forward. They are drumming sorcerers.

Bolomakote (VeraBRA/Intuition 26, 1989)

Farafina Live At Montreux Jazz Festival (Artways Productions ART 2929, 1985)

Faso Denou (Realworld CDRW 35, 1993)

Nemako (Intuition Music INT 3241-2, 1998)

Kanou (L\'Empreinte Digitale ED 13134, 2002)