Kakande

An African Griot in New York

 
The balafon (xylophone) has electrified popular music in West Africa since the court of Emperor Sundiata Keita back in 1235. With his band Kakande, Famoro Dioubate updates this tradition with an explosive new groove. Lush vocals, sinewy guitars, flutes, and cellos meet the virtuosic balafon of this master griot from Guinea.

Kakande is:
Famoro Dioubate, balafon & vocals
Missia Saran Dioubate, vocals
Raul Rothblatt, cello
Sylvain Leroux, flutes
Mamadi "Djeliké" Kouyate, guitar
Yacouba Cissoko, kora
Peter Fand, bass
Sean Dixon, drums
Avram Fefer, sax