Kimi Djabaté was raised in Tabato, Guinea-Bissau, a village known for its jelis (griots), hereditary singer-poets whose songs of praise and tales of history and…
Artist Profiles: Kimi Djabaté
Category: Artist Profiles
Artist Profiles: Sekouba “Bambino” Diabaté
Sekouba “Bambino” Diabaté was born in the small village of Siguiri (Guinea) near the Malian border. He is descended from griots or jeli (a caste…
Artist Profiles: Maciré Sylla
Maciré Sylla is a singer from Guinea-Conakry. Her first album, “Mariama,” sold more than 250,000 copies in Africa alone, and won her the “Best Guinean…
Artist Profiles: Les Espoirs de Coronthie
Les Espoirs de Coronthie is a group of Susu musicians and dancers from Guinea who perform music rooted in Manding traditions. They use musical instruments…
Artist Profiles: Bembeya Jazz
Guinea’s Bembeya Jazz was formed in 1961, at a time and place when Afro-Cuban music resonated and possibly became the bridge between traditional music and…
Artist Profiles: African Virtuoses
Originally called Les Freres Diabate (The Diabate Brothers), the African Virtuoses were essentially a family band. But the Diabates were no ordinary family. For generations…
Artist Profiles: Pa Bobo Jobarteh
The great Gambian singer and kora player Pa Bobo Jobarteh rose to international attention when he was invited to perform at the WOMAD (World Music…
Artists Profiles: Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kidjo is one of the African singers with more attraction and performance power. The direct rhythms, strong, energetic, taken from the traditions of her…
Artist Profiles: Roha Band
Roha Band is a very popular Ethiopian band that performs a mix of modern and traditional music. Roha Band has produced over 250 recordings with…
Artist Profiles: Minase Hailu
Minase Hailu, guitarist, fled Ethiopia during the dictatorship of Mengistu Haile-Mariam. He now lives in Germany. His family, having its farms confiscated, paid a high…