Abdoul Aziz Sinka – Band-Leader
He was born in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Very early he gets in touch with music through a Griot family who teaches him singing. In several West African countries he met other traditions and intensifies his music knowledge in Djembe, Talking Drum, Calabash calabash and N’goni. Since 2002 Aziz is living in Germany, where he founds LANAYA with his brother Ibrahim in order to put across his home culture. To the rich Manding’s culture the band adds modern elements of style. With “Trio DJEKAFO” he was on tour in Germany and Switzerland in 2008. In 2009 Aziz Sinka initiates an ambitious project: BEN KADY (Peace is good). The ensemble of musicians from about 15 countries presents itself in an exceptionally social, cultural and musical variety. Openness, tolerance, braveness and talent are the keys of this successful project which Aziz wants to establish in Berlin every year with the WOKA KUMA Festival, Berlin. In 2005 he plays as the first African artist at the UNESCO Festival Sharq Taronalari in Uzbekistan. With “Interkunst” project against violence & racism he is on tour in Germany. Since 2006 Aziz regularly appears in the House scene of Lithuania with DJ Avieras. In 2008 he gave music workshops at the Oneaka Dance Company in Charlotte, North Carolina/USA. Aziz performs solo and with musicians at Africa Film festival “AfriKamera”, World Championships in Athletics 2009 (IAAF) and “Fanmeile” for FIFA World Cup in 2006. In 2009 ARTE-TV showed Abdoul Aziz Sinka as one of the main protagonists in “24 hours Berlin”.
He produce the festivals: WOKA KUMA in Berlin/Germany & FESTICO in Bobo-Dioulasso/Burkina Faso.
Rama Ngoni aka Alimatou Diakité
is one of the most popular singers in Burkina Faso and now lives in Germany.
This wonderful vocal artist plays the traditional instrument N’goni (West African harp), traditionally played only by hunters and dozos – Rama Ngoni is one of the few women who plays the Ngoni!
Since childhood, she immersed herself in music through her father, the renowned musician Limani Fatié Traoré. Her career began at the age of 7, when she accompanied her father on stage, and she has been traveling to festivals in Europe since the age of 10.
She has released two albums and collaborated with numerous Burkinabe artists.
Her style combines traditional and modern music, creating a musical experience.
Her voice seduces her listeners into a magical relaxation that also offers room for laughter and tears. Her songs, interwoven with fairy tales, tell of simple life, great wisdom, and the hidden desires of people.
She comes from a traditional griot family in the cultural capital of Bobo Dioulasso and draws her inspiration from these roots. Griots are tasked with preserving and passing on history, with bringing peace to people so they can make decisions with their hearts.
Souleymane Diabaté comes from a griot family in Bobo-Dioulasso. Already at a young age he played in his family structure as a balafon player and was able to learn from the really great artists. Since 2011 he has been touring internationally in music groups but also as a musician for theater and dance pieces, representing Burkinabe traditional music on public stages. In addition to the various ensembles, his greatest collaborations are with e.g. the Malian star Sidiki Diabaté or Cheik Tidiane Seck.
Massa Dembélé has already released two albums with his solo career and has been an integral part of the group FASO ORKESTRA since 2019. After his musical training in Burkina Faso, he has been in Germany for many years and lives as a musician and music teacher. Through his many years of performance and stage experience, he makes a significant contribution to the cohesion of the group.
Adama Dembélé also known as solo artist Djah Barro, reggae musician and instrumentalist of West African Burkinabe traditional music. Born in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) into a griot family, he learned percussion, singing and ngoni from the age of 6 in a family context, as well as accompanying dance performances, weddings and family celebrations as a musician. In 2003 he traveled to Italy for the first time with his group “Bensoba”, in 2009 he traveled to Belgium, Holland and Italy as a music teacher until he arrived in Germany in 2014. He maintained international cooperation and traveled as a musician. “Djah Barro” he released his first reggae album in 2021.
Moussa Coulibaly is a griot musician. His compositions are strongly influenced by his cultural background in the rock village of Kolonzo, the “Village Coulibaly”, in western Burkina Faso right on the border with Mali, where Moussa was born and grew up. After various tours through Europe, he has been living and working in Berlin since 2012. He has already released several works and plays masterfully in front of the balafon, djembé and n’goni in his groups.