Groups
Afrika Mamas
The Afrika Mamas band, established in 1998, showcases the captivating polyphonic vocal traditions of the Zulu culture. This all-female sextet has worked alongside numerous African musicians and gained a broad international following, performing in countries across Africa, Europe, and China. They were also part of the South African Olympic team’s journey to the London Olympic Games, where they performed with other South African artists. As single mothers, the singers infuse their music with their personal social experiences and are passionate advocates for women’s rights in South African society.
Gargar
Gargar is a group made up of Kenyan women of Somali origin from Garissa, North Eastern Kenya.The group’s name is derived from the Somali word ‘Gargar’ meaning ‘joining together’. Their music features songs that are uniquely traditional and in keeping with Somali language and sounds, yet arranged and recorded with modern instrumentation and arrangements to keep it relevant to the present day.
Peter Akwabi
Peter Akwabi has been composing and teaching music for over five decades. Born in Khwisero in western Kenya, he has been credited with popularizing omutibo beats, a form of processional music from that part of the country, characterized by rhythms inspired by a traditional dance of the Luhya community.
Cheny Wa Guny
Cheny Wa Gune is a Mozambican artist known for being a master of the “mbila,” a traditional wooden xylophone that is central to the cultural identity of the Vachopi people from Southern Mozambique. He leads the Cheny Wa Gune Quarteto, blending the traditional sounds of the mbila with modern urban influences, particularly jazz and world music. His music reflects a rich combination of African rhythms such as bikutsi, makossa, and funk, and he has performed internationally, including in places like La Réunion, Brazil, and Argentina.
Alostmen
ALOSTMEN are a traditional acoustic band from Ghana made up of 4 musicians from different ethnic groups. Using traditional instrumentation in entirely new ways, their music is based around the Frafra traditions of the Kologo, a two-stringed lute, ancestor of the banjo. Alostmen comes from “a lost man”, one who is always on the move.
Koool Kreol Konektion
This group brings back the Mauritian sega of the 70s, blending soul and funk. Five singers from Kool Kreol Konektion take turns reviving this incredible music. Ti Lafrik, Georgie Joe, Menwar, Catherine Velienne, and Marie-Josée Clency will be accompanied by a group of eight musicians, the best from Mauritius. In other words, Kool Kreol Konektion is a true dancing machine !
Sakili
Sakili’s music embodies the rich history of Rodrigues Island, seamlessly merging European and African influences. Mazurka, waltz, polka, and schottische all intertwine with the traditional African sega drumming rhythms. This fusion reflects the cultural blend of the island’s past, while modern influences from globalization also creep into some of their songs, bringing elements of the Western world and contemporary themes.
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Lornoar
One of the great voices of Cameroonian music. Trained in the tough cabaret scene, and winner of the 2010 Grand Prix at the Massao Festival of Women’s Voices, Lornoar is the heir to African oral tradition: powerful lyrics, written and sung in her native language, with themes both current and timeless, creating songs destined to become classics. Her music is a celebration of rhythms from Africa and beyond: bikutsi, ekang, funk, assiko, makossa, zulu, bossa nova, reggae, and more, all honed through international stage experience, from Europe to the United States.
Menwar
Menwar is a Mauritian percussionist and singer. He was one of the pioneers of Seggae music, forming the group Sagaï in the 1980s. Honoré is a player of the ravanne, for which he has begun to develop a written technique, something that has not been done previously. He also plays multiple instruments that he has selfmade or that come from the African culture.
Tarika Sammy
TARIKA SAMMY blends Madagascar’s diverse musical styles, offering a journey across the Big Red Island. Sammy, living in his own musical world, crafts nearly all his instruments, from violins and flutes to traditional guitars (kabosy) and percussion. Bosco, who learned the kabosy while herding zebu in the Eastern Highlands, joined Sammy in Antananarivo in 2004. They are accompanied by Clara, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and dancer from Betsileo, who began singing the a-capella style zafindraona at age six.
Elisouma
A trio “made in Comores,” ELISOUMA unites stars from three generations and musical worlds. Eliasse, the youngest, brings modernity with his guitar, while Soubi, the “Tradition Man,” preserves Comorian heritage through traditional instruments. M’Madi, known for his unique Dzendze groove, adds a mystical touch. Together, they create a sublime fusion of traditional and contemporary Comorian music. After a successful tour in Germany and Belgium in 2013, ELISOUMA returned to Europe for a summer tour in France in 2015.