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Daby Balde

Moutarou "Daby" Balde is from the isolated region of Senegal called Fouladou, which borders Gambia and Guinea-Bissau and is home of diverse musical styles. From an early age, he pursued a love of music, both traditional and original. He sings in a variety of languages accompanied mostly by his own guitar.

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Ballaké Sissoko

Ballaké Sissoko, born 1968, is a noted player of the kora. He has worked with Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal and several others. Ballaké's father, Djelimady Sissoko, was a great master of the kora.

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Orchestra Baobab

Orchestre Baobab is a Senegalese band formed 1970 in Dakar, Senegal as a multi-ethnic, multi-national club band. Put together by saxophonist Baro N'Diaye, original members included singers Balla Sidibe, Rudy Gomis, and Laye Mboup; guitarists Barthelemy Attisso and Latfi Ben Geloune; bassist Charlie N’Diaye; drummer Mountaga Koite; and saxophonist Issa Cissokho. Ndiouga Dieng and Medoune Diallo sometimes sat in with the band, and personnel changed frequently. Later, singer Thione Seck and his younger brother Mapenda Seck joined the band.

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Mariem Hassan

Widely recognised by critics as the best voice in Western Sahara, Mariem Hassan has unavoidably become the representative voice for her people throughout the world. Her powerfully haunting voice calls-out for the liberalisation of her occupied homeland. Early on in her music career, Mariem joined forces with "Matir el Uali Mustafa Sayed" (better known as "El Uali"). With El Uali she toured other countries to take part in cultural events of high political impact.

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Sibongile Khumalo

This South African Songstress was featured in the South African Music Documentary "Amandla!" Sibonghile Khumalo is one of the leading ladies in the South African tradition of heavenly voices. She has an excellent album out called "Live at the Market theatre" which is a tribute to South African musicians including;Miriam Makeba, Prince Lengoasa, Bheki Mseleku, Caiphus Semenya, Dorothy Masuka amongst others. She is trained as an opera singer and brought that vibe to these recordings. On one of the tracks on the album she switched from vocals to violin the result sounded celtic.

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Nahini Doumbia

Nahini Doumbia is a griot drummer based in Mali. He and his band regularly perform at wedding and private parties in Bamako. A master drummer, he also runs workshops and teaches percussion in Mali, France, and the UK.

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2face Idibia

Innocent Ujah Idibia best known as 2face Idibia is a recording artist from Benue State, Nigeria. He was a member of the defunct R&B/hip hop group Plantashun Boyz. One of the most internationally recognized celebrities Nigeria has produced in years, his massively popular song African Queen was the first ever video to be played on pan African channel MTV Base. 2face was the recipient of such awards as the 2005 Channel O Best Male Music Video award and the first award given for Best African at the MTV Europe Awards held in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2005.

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