Live record by Habib Koite and friends on CD on belgium label Contre Jour!

Mande Sila , the voice of the Mandingo culture ; this project symbolises the languages, culture and musical richness of West Africa
Mande Sila is also a story of encounters between 4 virtuoso artists.

Habib Koite and Aly Keïta ('magic balafon') have shared a few stages together on the Habib Koite & Guests project (with Kareyce Fotso & Dobet Gnahoré).
As for Lamine Cissokho (kora), he was invited in 2022, like Habib, to take part in a project by Eric Bibb to pay tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat, premiered at the Philharmonie de Paris. At the end of this meeting and this magnificent concert, the desire for another musical collaboration was born.
The acoustic project therefore came about quite naturally with this trio of virtuosos linked by the same cultural heritage; a melting pot that inspires their compositions and enhances the revival of the genre.

Habib Koité, one of the most popular and recognized musicians in West Africa, is a modern troubadour who charms with his musicality, his wit and his wisdom.
His 30-year career (over 2000 concerts worldwide) is testament to this, whether with his group Bamada, in projects such as Acoustic Africa with Vusi Malhasela or Olivier Mutukudzi, Desert Blues with Tartit & Afel Bocoum, in a duet with Eric Bibb or as a guest of Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, etc.

Aly Keïta is recognised worldwide for his mastery of the balafon, his impressive virtuosity and his unique sound for both traditional music and jazz (collaborations with Joe Zawinul, Trilok Gurtu, Jan Garbarek, Paolo Fresu, Has Lüdemann & Trio Ivoire, Lucas Niggli, etc. He also performs solo and with his trio).

In the world of Lamine Cissokho, the kora reveals itself as an audacious polyglotte, capable of conversing in Mandinka as well as in jazz or oriental melodies ; with incredible dexterity and intensity, Lamine plays solo and alongside various artists such as bluesman Eric Bibb, jazz pianist Olivier Hutman, Indian guitarist Manish Pingle, among others

Track Listing

• Mansa Cisse
• Benkan
• Fimani
• Mande
• Batoumambe
• Contrevent
• Kora Kouma
• Forever
• L.A.
• Foro Bana
• Makuku / Kun Feta

Additional Details

Label: Contre Jour

Genre: World

Run Time: 72:35 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 08/08/25

UPC: 5413820000405