Habib Koité & Bamada
Habib comes from a noble line of Khassonké griots, traditional troubadors who provide wit, wisdom and musical entertainment at social gatherings and special events. Habib grew up surrounded by seventeen brothers and sisters, and developed his unique guitar style accompanying his griot mother. He inherited his passion for music from his paternal grandfather who played the kamele n'goni, a traditional four-stringed instrument associated with hunters from the Wassolou region of Mali. "Nobody really taught me to sing or to play the guitar," explains Habib, "I watched my parents, and it washed off on me."
The djembe drum has its origin in the empire of Mali, which was founded by the Malinke (or Manding) people around the 13th century. It was situated in parts of the present-day countries Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia and Senegal.
Listen to his strings (vocal, dan, n'goni, guitar) with his fellow citizens (Salif Keita, Ali Farka Touré, Habib Koïté, Oumou Sangaré, Guerebou Kounkan …) as well as on Mali lovers' artists (hip hop globetrotter Kwal, fiddled pop of Toma Side...
Le djansa est un rythme de l'ethnie Kassoule du Mali du Sud. Traditionnellement, c'était un rythme de danse de compétition pour les jeunes hommes. Aujourd'hui, c'est un rythme très populaire joué dans toute l'Afrique de l'Ouest.
Impelling rhythms and musical poetry are the characteristics of this quartet, a crossover act led by musician, composer and vocalist Moussa Diallo, who has his roots in Mali and Denmark.
Dedicated to West African drumming music from Senegal, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea and particularly rhythms associated with Djembe, Sabar, and Kpanlogo drums.
Niger is trapped between Algeria, Mali, Bukina Faso and other countries in the northern part of Africa. No ocean in sight to quench the thirst. Only the Sahara's endless desert. Front man Yacouba Moumouni & ensemble mix West & North African traditions.
A place to buy decent djembes, goatskins, shells, and a fine metal gripper-puller thingie that saves your hands when pulling ropes on your "mali weave." Some good links, too.