SABARI

Founded by Malo Sonko in 2000, Sabari is composed of a selection of professional artists from Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, UK and France. They have all been performing in London and overseas for many years and demonstrate an outstanding array of talents.

Being a mixed group gives Sabari the opportunity to share different cultural experiences. The ethnic diversity gives way to collective artistic creativity and together they produce an explosive show, full of colour and vitality.

With a strong emphasis on the traditional instruments of West Africa, Sabari have contributed to the promotion of the West African cultural heritage in both African and European countries. The artists explain the cultural background of the music and the traditions behind the dances they perform and have assisted in the production of multicultural events across the UK.

Sabari has a sound and a voice unheard before in African ensembles. They compose and arrange beautifully a spectacle of rhythms, songs and dances adapted from the traditional musical culture of Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Mali, mostly part of the Mandinka heritage. They use West African acoustic instruments which produce awe-inspiring music, in turn melodic and energetic, accessible to and enjoyed by all.

Sabari use an impressive variety of traditional instruments which you may not have seen or heard before (click on each name to see a picture of the instrument):