Sidiki Camara is one of Mali’s leading contemporary percussionists and composers, and is one of the creators of the modern wave of Manding music from Mali. From the beginning of his musical career, he played with important musicians from Mali such as: Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate, Oumou Sangare and Habib Koite.

Sidiki has toured the world extensively as a solo percussionist with the Mali National Ballet. He has been a guest on several tours with Bill Frisell New Quartet, and is a regular member of Bill Frisell’s band “Intercontinental”. Sidiki also teaches percussion and is the founder of the cultural exchange program “Wakinama” After several years in Brussels where he continued to cooperate with musicians such as Kasse Mady Diabate, Djelimady Tounkara, Mamady Keita, Rokia Traoré and Boubacar Traoré, he now lives in Oslo, Norway.

After Sidiki Camara moved to Oslo, he started a band with musicians living in Norway with a common passion for Manding music, who have been active in several projects with African musicians, and bring influence of jazz and country to the group sound.

In the Manding tradition, music and dancing are tightly integrated with mutual influence. There is little distinction between performer and audience, all are actively involved in music and is seen as equally important in creating the music.

The two most important instruments in Sidiki`s music, is the djembe and the calabash, which have been with him all his life. The calabash is a semi-hollowed out and dried gourd, that he used as a bathtub already as an infant. In addition to playing percussion instruments, Sidiki players the traditional string instrument n’goni, which is similar to the more famous kora. Sidiki has written the lyrics in his mother tongue Malinke.

Dieudonne Vakote – on top of the hit-lists in Cameroon with his album Samira
Hallvard Godal – active with Monoswezi, Fattigfolket, Peloton and Eduardo Durčo Timbila Orchestra
Øivind Wang Tollefsen – played on cds with String Zone and Primal Spirit
Joakim Frøystein – award-winning conservatory educated guitar-player, known from Jogujo Circuit and Sugarghost
Bård Gunnar Moe – known from amongst others Primal Spirit

www.sidikicamaraband.com

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