Yahael Camara-Onono is a talented Djembe player, educator and activist. He’s performed on stages all across the world as well as facilitating djembe workshops around Europe for many years. In 2019 Yahael formed the 16 piece band, Balimaya Project - a Pan-African collective built on the foundation of forging musical and cultural ties. As well as being band leader, Yahael composes and arranges music for the group. Balimaya Project uses the repertoire and instrumentation of the Mande peoples of Senegal and Mali as a bridge to bring folkloric West African traditions and Afro Cuban music into communication with Jazz and the sounds of Black London. During this interview Yahael was visiting friends and family in Senegal. Together we discussed kinship, the West African diaspora and musical initiations.
Tracklist:
Soninka Patronba
Balimaya
City of God
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