Born in Kagoshima, Japan in 1974, Sakaki Mango studied the Swahili language at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, where he also began his research on the music of Tanzania. He travelled to Africa to receive direct training from the late Hukwe Ubi Zawose (then leader of the Tanzanian National Theatre) on the limba, and from Galikai Tillicoti on the mbira. In addition to limba and mbira, Sakaki Mango also plays the electric likimbe, a Congolese amplified lamellaphone.

Sakaki has done much to popularise the traditional music of Tanzania in Japan through concerts and workshops. He found ways to plug the instrument though amplifiers and suitably co-starred with Konono No 1 (DRC) at their international shows during 2006.

"Sakaki's technique and style go far beyond mere imitation, generating a fresh breeze that flows through his music. This is truly the music of an individual that has inherited the spirit of Africa. …although there is no lack of Japanese musicians these days who play traditional instruments of non-Japanese origin, I don't think there are any who play at the level Sakaki does" (CD Journal)