Samba Lolo

A griot or jeli (djeli or Jeli in Bambara) is a combination poet, praise singer, and storyteller, considered a vital component in passing down the West African oral traditions. The griot sings many early traditional songs of his people's history without error, but must also have the ability to incorporate current events, chance incidents and the passing scene. His wit can be sharp and his knowledge of local history formidable. West African Griot guitarist, singer, storyteller and song master Boubacar Diabate, from Bamako in Mali, West Africa comes from a long Mande lineage of griots that can be traced back to before the ancient Malian Empire. Diabate along with his group, SambaLolo, fuses early traditional Mande rhythms with modern influences blending Jazz, Reggae, Blues and Bluegrass to create his own unique style of contemporary Malian Griot music. Singing in Bambara, Mande and English, Bouba and SambaLolo create riveting performances spanning the full spectrum of Traditional to Contemporary Malian music from West Africa. His songs are of a common shared experience of love, life and humanity, giving all a rare opportunity to hear the age-old West African tradition of West African Griot storytelling through song.

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