Artists

Atongo Zimba comes from the north of Ghana. He was very young when his grandfather taught him to make and play the koliko (or molo), a two stringed lute, which is used throughout the savannahs and deserts of West Africa.

His time as a child was divided between the read more

When born a Cissoko, one is a kora player. The Guinean Ba Cissoko perpetuates a more than centenary history. He is the last born of a long lineage of griots, master singers and agile string pluckers.

Ba Cissoko knows all the codes and secrets of tradition. He estimates its reach, for read more

Bahati Female Band are eight Tanzanian women who describe their music as a combination of afro-fusion, afro-pop and bongo flava. Some of the members used to work with Lumumba Theatre and other groups based in Dar es Salaam. They decided to establish their own group to focus on performing a variety of read more

[[[STOP PRESS +Bassekou gets great review at Festival in the Desert:

"The band and the singers are all enthusiastic, jolly performers, and Kouyate's groove gets most of the audience on their feet and chanting"

Rosie Swash, Guardian Unlimited http://music.guardian.co.uk/desert2008/story/0,,2239799,00.html

Other stories:

Segu Blue gets BBC World Music Award Album of the Year read more

There are many beni bands on the island but this group is one of the best, and a must for any festival. Beni turned the inspiration of colonial military brass bands into a completely local thing, by bringing it into the realm of song and dance competitions. Played mostly at read more

Bi Kidude bint Baraka is Zanzibar's most famous cultural ambassador and East Africa's legendary barefoot diva of taarab and unyago traditional music.

Bi Kidude's exact date of birth is unknown, much of her life story is uncorroborated, giving her an almost mythical status. Kidude started out her musical career read more