Our Artists
Mamadou Diabate, the Master of the Talking Balafon from Burkina Faso, is the founder and leader of Percussion Mania and plays a distinctive kind of balafon music. This group plays two balafons as lead instruments in a unique West African band. Some have said he plays with more than two hands to reflect his exceptional precision. Diabate has published 13 albums, one of which is “Keneya,” featuring the traditional balafon music of the Sambla people. His excellent talent gives the impression that several balafonists are performing at once.
SoloBalafon
Balafons as solo instruments open the door to West African melodies for European listeners. The Balafons used in the concerts are different in tones or harmonies so that they can demonstrate various ways of African music.On the one hand, the compositions are traditional pieces from Burkina Faso, which have been played for many years. On the other hand, there are compositions from Mamadou that were influenced by his life in Europe. With incredible virtuosity, Mamadou plays wonderful melodies with rhythmic finesse, completed with the sound of his voice.The sticks move at a velocity you can´t realize with your eyes. You would think three musicians are playing if you cannot see Mamadou standing alone on stage because of the sound.
The Vodou Priest Uniting Contemporary Music Revolution with Haiti's Spiritual Origins
Erol Josue is a vodou priest, more than a singer and veteran musician from Haiti. He is a true performer. His live performances, studio albums, and music videos tie together his experiences and foreign tours across various musical genres, traditional vodou, and Racines (roots), infused with jazz, electronic, and Haitian spirituals, creating an eccentric contemporary style. His fantastic voice captures the joy and pain of Haiti’s tragic past. Josue’s debut album, Regleman, came out 16 years ago, which showcased his talent and unique sound. His most recent composition, “Pelerinaj” (Pilgrimage), is a jazz, electronic, and improvised musical trip with a distinctive and vibrant sound. He invites listeners to engage with a fusion of creative and spiritual expression, blending trendy musical forms with traditional insight. As his latest debut in the renowned publications SONGLINES, Erol Josué’s remarkable artistic talents have gained recognition on a global scale, consolidating his credibility as a trailblazing artist who uniquely blends innovation and heritage.
The Trailblazer of Afrobluehop fusing Hip-Hop, Blues, and Congolese rhythms for a powerful message of peace.
Joyce N’sana embodies Afrobluehop, a bold blend of Afro-blues, hip-hop, rock-soul, and occasionally reggae rhythms. Her small stature belies the power of her voice, which carries a message of peace shaped by a youth spent in Congo amid war. Praised for her “incredible intensity” (Éric Barrette, Radio-Canada) and “survivor’s fervor” (Stéphane Laporte, The Voice-Canada), her EP OBOSSO (2021) has been hailed as “top-notch” (Jean-François Côté, Radio-Canada), captivating audiences with authenticity and dynamism.Starting in 2016 with an EP awarded “World Music Album of the Year” by CJLO Radio, Joyce also shone on the “The Voice” stage in 2018 before winning the Montreal finale of the Landmark Events Showcase in 2019. Recognized as a Radio-Canada Revelation for 2021-2022 and nominated at the Gala Dynastie, she returns in 2024 with TÉLAMA, an album meaning “rise” in Kikongo, mixing Kongo rhythms, blues, and hip hop in French, English, Kikongo, and Lingala. This work pays tribute to Sony Labou Tansi and Sara Tavares, reflecting some of Joyce N’sana’s profound influences.
Pioneers in rhythm, fusing Candomblé, or, Samba, and Afrobeat with a World-Class Musical Flair
Dende is a multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, singer, composer, percussionist, and instructor. At 14, he made his stage debut with Carlinhos Brown’s famous percussion group, Timbalada, marking the start of his career as an expert musician. He has been performing with his musical bands and has divided his time between the US and Bahia since 2001. His flagship band, Dende & Band, reflects his broad musical palate and solid ties to rhythms like rumba, afrobeat, and mbalax, as well as his profound Candomblé and Samba de Roda roots. Dende & Band have played at multiple events over the last twenty years, including the Lincoln Center Atrium in New York City, the Summer Dance and the Old Town School in Chicago, the Kalalu Festival in Saint Lucia, the KW Latin Fest in Canada, the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, and the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Afro-Latin Roots Music and Movement
Sanctuario is a dynamic musical group that creates a singular and compelling experience by mixing technological sounds with traditional Afro-Dominican rhythms. Monica Ortiz Rossi brings happiness, dancing, and health to celebrations in New York City and across nations globally. She is the creative leader of Sanctuario, an Afro-Latin music and dance group influenced by the rhythms and melodies of her Dominican heritage. The African-derived rhythms unify the people of Quisqueya, or Ayiti, present-day Dominican Republic, and Haiti, which share a rich African history.
Afro-Latin Afro-Caribbean Urban Salsa Afro Dominican Latin Roots
Mónica’s family comes from the Dominican Republic, and she grew up surrounded by Afro-Caribbean rhythms in Brooklyn, NY. Her music is rooted in Afro-Dominican and Afro-Haitian rhythms and is a love letter to Quisqueya and the world. She frequently collaborates with Okai Musik, and as descendants of DR and Haiti, they embrace the rich African rhythms that have historically united us. Sanctuario’s music serves as a reminder that we come from one land, and we share a vision of collective love and liberation for the future.The band pushes musical limits in a bid to honor and maintain its cultural heritage. Its dynamic shows and thought-provoking songs convey a message of social awareness and faith.
The Pioneering DJ Behind 'RaRa Tech,' Blending Contemporary Electronic Beats with Haitian Musical Heritage.
Gardy Girault is a pioneering Haitian DJ, producer, and singer who blends trendy electronic sounds with the rich musical traditions of Haiti, like RaRa, Kompa, and Rasin. He calls this distinctive sound “RaRa Tech.” In the mid-2010s, he became well-known in various parts of the world. Girault began his career in 2008, but with the 2010 earthquake, his sound was modified. This resulted in the publication of his first album, Kiskeya, in 2015, along with songs like “Journey to Tortuga.” After establishing his record label, RiZing MuZik, he released creative EPs, including Ghetto Leyan and Selebre. Girault is recognized as a visionary in the music world for his work, which combines contemporary sounds with Haiti’s cultural origins.
Uplifting, high-octane cross-cultural anthems for a global community
The vibrant group Brown Rice Family has artists with a Brooklyn feel from South Africa, Japan, Jamaica, Haiti, and the US. This multicultural band blends world, funk, reggae, hip-hop, and jazz to produce a distinctive mix of music reflecting their many cultures. They are a movement, not simply a band, that uses melody to foster enthusiasm, harmony, and social awareness.Their goal is to unite people by their powerful words and beats and promote change. The energetic and harmonious message of Brown Rice Family never fails to enthral audiences, as they have demonstrated at esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and festivals throughout the globe. Despite music, they interact with communities by holding residencies, workshops, and cultural exchange initiatives, resulting in educational opportunities that promote understanding and close gaps. Experience a musical celebration of world unity by traveling with Brown Rice Family on a rhythmic revolution!
A soulful blend of Haitian heritage and captivating melodies that linger long after the last note.
Talie (Nathalie Cerin) is a singer-songwriter, guitar player, and podcast host from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, based in Philadelphia. Her work, which combines soul and folk music from Haiti, is a dedication to the two distinct cultures that have influenced her as a person and an artist. Talie sings with her faithful guitar, paying tribute to a rich and challenging history while offering bright prospects for the future to anybody looking for serenity. Soley Midi, a brilliant mix of Talie’s and classic Haitian folk songs that chronicles a quest for the sun, came out in 2019. Talie acts as chief editor for Woy Magazine, an online magazine that seeks to be an outlet for Haitians in Haiti and abroad.