Kimi Djabaté (Guinea-Bissau)
Emerging star of the world music circuit, singer, guitarist and songwriter Kimi Djabaté moves Guinea-Bissau into the first league of Mandingo traditional music.
July 30, 2010 | Sines’ Castle | 18h00
Kimi Djabaté was raised in Tabato, Guinea-Bissau, a village known for its griots, hereditary singer-poets. His parents, two brothers and his sister were all professional musicians. Recognized as a prodigy, Djabaté began playing the balafón, the African xylophone, when he was just three years old. The study of the kora provided a foundation for subsequent accomplishments as a guitarist. From a very young age he contributed to the family’s income by performing at weddings and baptism ceremonies. Djabaté’s parents as well as his uncle, provided him with excellent training in traditional Mandingo music, but Djabaté was also interested in popular African genres such as the local dance music style gumbé, Nigerian Afrobeat and Cape Verdean morna. In 1994, Kimi decided to settle in Lisbon, and in 2005 released his first solo album, Teriké, independently. The central theme of Karam, Djabaté’s second solo album, is Africa: it’s social and political realities; the suffering of African people; the fight against poverty; freedom; women’s rights; and love. An expression of his griot roots, Karam pays tribute to the people, soul and spirit of Africa that is at the heart of his music.
http://www.myspace.com/kimidjabate
http://cumbancha.com/kimidjabate
Kimi Djabaté: lead vocals, guitar, balafon
Braima Galissa: kora
Capitão: djembe, congas and backing vocals
Milton Gulli: electric guitar and backing vocals
Sussoko: drums, calabash and backing vocals
Renato: electric bass and backing vocals
Alexandra: backing vocals
