Seckou Keita

A step closer to an African tradition dating back to the 14th century is not one to a drum orchestra but rather to the sophisticated music of the kora, the marvellous Mandinka harp. Seckou Keita who hails from Casamance in Southern Senegal is on the strength his release Mali (ARC Music Productions) right up there with Toumani Diabate and Kaouding Cissoko. Drawing on his lifelong experience as a leading kora player in Senegal together with his sojourn as part of the African contingent with the superb Irish traditionalist/ fusion band Baka Beyond, Seckou has created a beautiful work that glides naturally between traditional West African kora playing, singing and drumming and Irish sounds on violin, string instruments and flutes.

Indeed many of the Baka Beyond crew provide backing of a deep emotional consonance that surpasses any European/ African collaboration that I’ve heard. For here we are presented with a broad range of tempos and beautiful melodies that while deeply respectful of tradition are also able to dance joyfully ahead of it.