(headline image: Badenya les Freres Coulibaly – Photo by Atelier images) The jembe is a rope-tuned, skin-headed goblet drum associated above all with Mandé cultural…
The Jembe: West Africa’s Famed Goblet Drum
Tag: Guinean music
Key Move: Chrysalis Global Launches ‘Guitari Baro’
(headline image: Guitari Baro – Photo by Carolina Vallejo) Chrysalis Records has launched its Chrysalis Global imprint with an instrumental debut, Guitari Baro (Guitar Conversations),…
The Kora: West Africa’s Cherished 21-Stringed Harp-Lute
(headline image: Toumani and Sidiki Diabate – Photo by Youri Lenquette) The kora, a 21-stringed instrument, holds a significant place in West African musical traditions,…
Natu Camara to Perform at Bryant Park
(headline image: Natu Camara – Photo by Jamie Ambler) Natu Camara is set to perform at Bryant Park. A powerhouse rooted in West Africa and…
Balafon Maestro N’famady Kouyaté of Guinea
(headline image: N’famady Kouyaté – Photo by Nadine Ballantyne) N’famady Kouyaté, a master musician from Conakry, Guinea, relocated to Cardiff, Wales, in 2019. A skilled…
Leon Keita’s Musical Alchemy: Manding Traditions with a Funk Twist
Leon Keita – Leon Keita (Analog Africa Dance Edition No.16, 2023) Leon Keita is a compilation highlighting songs by the mysterious Guinean guitarist Leon Keita,…
Global Mashup Concert in Queens, New York, Stride Piano Meets Guinea
The upcoming musical event, Mini-Global Mashup: Stride Piano Meets Guinea, on May 21, 2023, will showcase a captivating collaboration between two talented musicians from vastly…
Balafon, the ancient xylophone of West Africa
The balafon is a type of struck idiophone, specifically a gourd-resonated xylophone. It is closely associated with the Gur, Mandé, and Senufo peoples of West…
Kimi Djabaté Turns Pain of Childhood into Uplifting, Love-Filled Tunes on Latest Album ‘Dindin’
Kimi Djabaté – Dindin (Cumbancha, 2023) Dindin is the new album by highly talented multi-instrumentalist, composer and vocalist Kimi Djabaté. Currently based in Portugal, Djabaté…
WOMEX 2022 to Present Lusofónica Regional Stage
The influential annual gathering of world music professionals, WOMEX, will be presenting the Lusofónica Stage in 2022. The artists selected to perform represent Portuguese-speaking countries,…