Kanazoe, Clotilde Rullaud, Abdoulaye Traoré, Boubacar Djiga, Achille Nacoulma – Kananayé (TZIG’ART, 2024)
In Burkina Faso, the phrase “ka nana ye” translates to “it’s not all smooth sailing,” yet carries a message of hope: “it will be alright.” This sentiment lies at the heart of Kananayé, an album created by a Franco-Burkinan quintet featuring Kanazoe, Clotilde Rullaud, Abdoulaye Traoré, Boubacar Djiga, and Achille Nacoulma.
The group, formed in Bobo-Dioulasso in 2019, meshes together West African traditional music with blues, jazz, slam, and improvisation. Their upbeat multilingual compositions transcend genres, seamlessly mixing diverse influences into a cohesive sound. Furthermore, Kananayé captures the joy of creation with conscious, thought-provoking lyrics and a dynamic mix of soulful ballads and trance-inducing rhythms.
The album’s fluidity ensures it doesn’t feel like a patchwork of styles but rather a unified expression of resilience and optimism, embodying the belief that even amid challenges, harmony, and creativity prevail.
Musicians: Seydou “Kanazoe” Diabate on balan, percussion, vocals; Boubacar Djiga on kunde, percussion; Achille Nacoulma on drums, percussion, vocals; Clotilde Rullaud on vocals, flute; Abdoulaye “Debademba” Traore on guitars; and Kaskade on backing vocals.
Buy Kananayé.