(headline image: Sefo Kanuteh with kora – Photo by Will Sherratt) Sefo Kanuteh is a skilled kora and bala (balafon) player from The Gambia. He…
Kora and Bala Maestro Sefo Kanuteh of Ghana
Category: Artist Profiles
Exceptional Cuban Trumpet Player Yelfris Valdés
Yelfris Valdés, a Cuban composer and trumpet player, commenced his musical career at age 8, studying classical music. By 16, he embarked on professional tours…
Québécois Podorythmie and Passion: The Tale of Nicolas Pellerin
(headline image: Nicolas Pellerin and Les Grands Hurleurs – Photo by Christine Berthiaume) Nicolas Pellerin, the lead vocalist, violinist, and practitioner of podorythmie (foot tapping),…
Muwashshah Specialists Fatima Zahra Qortobi and Abdelkader Ghayt
The muwashshah, also known as moaxaja, is a distinguished poetic genre conceived and refined by Muqaddam ibn Muafá al-Cabri (alternatively spelled Moukaddam Ibn Mouafa of…
Sain Zahoor: A Sufi Musical Virtuoso from Pakistan
Born in 1936 the village of Haveli Lakhan in southern Punjab, Pakistan, Sain Zahoor (vocals, tumbi) embarked on a spiritual and musical journey at the…
Musician and Oral Historian Fatou Mint Engdhey of Mauritania
Fatou Mint Engdhey, a distinguished bearer of the Iggawin tradition (akin to African griots or European minstrels) has mastered the intricate art of the ardin,…
Biography of Extraordinary Violinist and Composer Ganesh Rajagopalan
Ganesh Rajagopalan was born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh in 1964. He is an acclaimed Indian classical violinist, vocalist, composer, and teacher, whose career spans over…
Söndörgő, Explorers of Hungarian and Balkan Traditions
(headline image: Söndörgő ©The Orbital Strangers Project) Söndörgő, a Hungarian band known for its mix of traditional music, classical sophistication, rock energy, and the pure…
Superfónicos, Enthralling Colombian Cumbia Fusion from Austin
Superfónicos have brewing irresistible Colombian funk and cumbia with Afrobeat since late 2016. Though based in Austin, Texas, most of the members have deep roots…
Biography of The Talented Zawose Queens of Tanzania
(headline image: The Zawose Queens – Photo by Michael Mbwambo) The Zawose Queens, composed of Leah and Pendo Zawose, are self-motivated musicians whose work channels…