The Stoller Hall

“Seckou Keita can be classed alongside the great Toumani Diabate as one of the adventurous masters of the kora” -The Guardian

Seckou Keita is a renowned Kora virtuoso who stands as a luminary amongst African traditional musicians. Hailing from Southern Senegal, his journey from a gifted child to a globally recognised musician has been nothing short of remarkable. Dubbed as “the Hendrix of the Kora”, Seckou’s innovative approach and exceptional skill constantly pushes the boundaries of what the instrument canachieve. With a discography boasting 14 critically-acclaimed albums cumulating over 25 million streams on Spotify alone, and a collection of prestigious awards, including multiple BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, he always leaves an indelible mark on the music scene.

After the success of ‘African Rhapsodies’, Seckou Keita returns to his roots with his new album ‘Homeland’, due to be released in October 2024 by Hudson Records. In this upcoming opus, Seckou explores identity, sense of belonging and questions the very idea of home, influenced by his own relationship with both his adoptive UK homeland and his native country Senegal.

Always adventurous and seeking to challenge tradition through his Kora-playing, Seckou will surprise his audience with ‘Homeland’ by taking them on a journey from past to present. Once again, he bridges musical genres, this time by blending traditional rhythms and modern compositions to create a unique sound, embracing afro-pop, urban and hip-hop. Transitional musical poetry written and delivered by award winning poets and rap artists from the UK and Senegal will be craftily sampled and woven into the music, shaping a one of a kind live experience.

For the first time in ten years, Seckou will be playing his Kora standing up, a tradition set by his uncle and mentor, the late Solo Cissokho, one of Senegal’s most famous pop stars of the nineties. Backed by an electrifying six-piece band of influential Senegalese musicians including drummer Matar N’Diongue, percussionist Kémo Cissokho, keyboardist Moussa N’Gom, guitarist Moustapha Gaye, bassist Modou Gueye, and the wonderful vocalist Korka Dieng, this promises to be an explosive live show! This line-up, enhanced by Seckou’s magical 22-string Kora and soulful vocals, is the ultimate African pop music act and brings a new colour to the genre in its most literal sense. In a blend of acoustic and electronic sounds, ‘Homeland’, the show, will certainly keep the audience on their toes and undoubtedly bring them to their feet to dance.

Image Credit: Pape Photoma

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