Benyoro’s Mandé Music Out July 8th

Benyoro Drops New Album July 8

Mandé music, specifically the music of the Maninka and Bamana people, is the soul of Benyoro, fully evident on tracks like “Kaira,” where the six-piece band storms a groove behind the guest vocals of Bébé Camara, or the sinuous “Haidara Sirifo,” which brings in singer Tapani Sissoko, but the sound reaches across Africa.

“Listen to the first track, ‘An Sera,’” suggest Benyoro’s kora player, Yacouba Sissoko. “We make the connection with Congolese soukous there. That’s natural – soukous is hugely popular all over the continent, it’s informed every type of African music. But Africa is such a big continent, with so many different cultures, and we try to make music for all Africa, to put the different sounds together and create a new color.”

06/20 Fri New Haven, CT @International Festival of Arts and Ideas
06/28 Sat New York, NY @Meridian 23
07/05 Sat Big Sur, CA @Esalen Institute
07/06 Sun Los Angeles, CA @The Mint
07/10 Thu Berkeley, CA @Ashkenaz
07/11-12 Fri-Sat Grass Valley, CA @California WorldFest