Africa
Music traditional and modern West African
Mafrica merges the talent of high caliber African percussionists, kora, vocals and flute in sharing a great passion, African percussive music.
The best African percussionists in Quebec!
A festive explosion of pure energy, joy and catchy rhythms!
A group with assured dynamism, which deploys great energy through percussion, singing and dance, while touching depth,
to the magic and spell of Mandinka acoustic music.
The pillar of the project, Sadio Sissokho, is a multidisciplinary Senegalese griot artist whose work we have had many times to savor. great talent within different groups as a percussionist and singer.
It takes us into the polyrhythmic universe explosive African percussion,
visits usr the traditional Mandingo repertoire rhythms from Senegal and Guinea
and shares with us his kora compositions.
Looking forward to come celebrate with you…….
VIDEO
Mafrica ...acoustic
In solo, duo and trio versions. February 2016
Mafrica in the semi-final at the Sylis d'Or at Nuit d'Afrique
Mafrica performing / 2015
Animation Baie Saint-Paul
See at 27.09 minutes and 37.31 minutes.
Biography of the artists
Sadio Sissokho
Kora-djembe-sabar-voice.
Sadio comes from a large family of griot musicians. From a young age, he learned music within his family. In 1998, he completed a bachelor's degree in percussion at the National Conservatory of Music and Percussion in Dakar, Senegal. For several years, before emigrating to Quebec, he was a member of multiple groups such as Les Ballets Banaya, Les Ballets Cheik Fall, Les Ballets Famondi and the Guido group. Upon his arrival in Quebec, he became a member of the group Taafé Fanga, then joining several groups: Kabakuwo, Ouanani, Sam Fall. He has accompanied several artists doun douns, kora, congas, sabar, tama, balafon, djembe and voice, including Annie Ébène, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Zal Seck, Wilfred Le Bouthiller, Lamine Touré, Mussa Dieng Kalla, Samajam , Sylvain Cossette, Les Frères Diouf, and several others. He also has great teaching talent; and teacher to a varied clientele, he teaches percussion in schools, CEGEPs, cultural centers, etc.
Sadio has a remarkable stage presence! He has great charisma and knows how to bring joy to crowds. and dynamism...
Fa Cissokho
Djembe-sabar-voice.
Fa is Sadio's brother. He has the same artistic background within the Sissokho family, in Senegal. Arriving in Quebec in 2013, he quickly stood out on the Montreal African scene through his immense talent.
Fa is an impressive soloist, he undoubtedly masters art djembe and makes him speak through a rhythmic language of rare intensity and beauty.
He exudes an electrifying energy and the sound of his djembe is powerful breathtaking.
Sheikh Anta Faye
Djembe-voice.
Cheikh Anta is a percussionist from Senegal, who began accompanying the great Senegalese ballets at the age of 16. Arriving in Quebec in 2006, he has since taught and hosted at the Samajam percussion school, with which he has given more than 1000 team building sessions. A talented teacher, he gives private lessons and accompanies the dance classes of great masters. With more than 20 years of experience, he has shared the stage with the greatest Senegalese percussionist Kissima Diabaté, the Diouf brothers, Bombolessé and he has collaborated with several other groups of varied musical styles. He has been supporting Mafrica training for 6 years already! He was seen at Star Académie with Céline Dion and Lionel Richie.
Valérie Ivy Hamelin
Transverse flute, voice and dance.
Ivy is a multidisciplinary artist expressing herself on the flute, voice and dance. She studied classical music at Collège Lionel-Groulx and has been perfecting African dance for 10 years in several schools in Montreal (Afrique en Mouvement, S`Temps d`Art Africain, Oumar N`diaye, Estelle Lavoie of Taafé Fanga), in Mexico with Karim Keita, Lamine Thiam, M`Bemba Bangoura as well as in the United States, at the Jeh Kulu school during intensive courses involving the participation of several great African masters. She began her journey with a Young Volunteers project from which the album Entre terre et femme was born, inspired by world music. She then led the Mamalua troupe, a troupe of women celebrating dance, singing and percussion. She has been part of several musical groups and accompanied different artists during performances and studio recordings. She teaches dance and singing in schools, CEGEPs, cultural centers and in cities. Ivy is dedicated to the transmission of her art and her passion, possessing a therapeutic vision of the benefits of art in its entirety. She joined the Mafrica group in 2008, bringing her melodious, harmonic and dynamic touch.
Diely Mori tounkara
Dundoun
Diely Mori is a virtuoso Malian musician on the kora and guitar. He has an impressive musical background both in Mali and in Senegal. He has accompanied great singers such as Super Rail Band from Bamako, Kerfala Kanté, Saramba Kouyaté, Daby Baldé and Samba Laobé N`Diaye.
Having arrived in Quebec a few years ago, he immediately joined the groups Taafé fanga and Kabakuwo as a kora player, guitar and percussionist. .Guest artist of Mafrica, he brings a dazzling texture to our music with his great mastery of the guitar. He also accompanies us to doundouns of his passionate energy. We can only savor the presence of Diely, this accomplished musician who delights our ears as soon as he touches a rope, whether on his kora or his guitar.