about

Aboubakar Traoré from Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, is a prodigy of the Kamele ngoni and an exceptional singer. He tells and renews the fabulous repertoire of the Mandingo Griots, denounces the daily difficulties of his people and pays tribute to the elders who have marked the history of his country and of Africa.

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Having gathered top class musicians such as Zonatan Dembélé (bass), former member of Rokia Traoré (Mali) , Désiré Somé (el. guitar), member of  Bai Kamar Jr. 's band The Voodoo Sniffers and Foofango, Guillaume Codutti (percussion) and Geoffrey Desmet (balafon, djembe), both part of percussive big band Sysmo, Aboubakar Traoré & Balima’s strength lies in the vitalisation of tradtion on the scenery of a varied background.

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Debut album "Tama Tama" (2019) was nominated by Octaves de la Musique (2021) and the band was selected to showcase at VISA FOR MUSIC (2023) in Morocco and Belgian Worldwide Music Night (2023) in Brussels.

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Currently the band is recording it’s second album set to release in september 2024 (Zephyrus Records).

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Aboubakar Traoré: Kamélé ngoni, lead voice.
Désiré Somé: Guitar, backing vocals
Guillaume Codutti: Percussion, backing vocals
Geoffrey Desmet: Balafon, djembe, backing vocals
Zonatan Dembélé: Bass,  backing vocals

Antoine Thonon: Sound engineer
Bertrand Veys: Management 

Wout Van Putten: Booking (labestia.be)