Sekouba Bambino has delighted audiences all over West-Africa, but remains something of an undiscovered treasure outside the African continent. Last Autumn he was in Europe and took the Spanish public by storm. Music for the dancefloor, infectious, joyous and the toast of Africa. Come to the party!
We cannot wait to present one of West Africa´s finest voices. Sekouba "Bambino" is the stage name of Sekouba Diabaté, a fantastic singer and musician from Guinea in West-Africa. He was born into a musical family, which boasts a long line of griots. (A griot is a west african, traditional musician and story teller. The mantel of griot is usually passed through relatives from generation to generation).
Sekouba´s mother passed away when he was three, but left behind a rich heritage of recorded songs which her son later heard on the radio. Her music became one of his central inspirations.
When he was 16 the serving president and music lover Sekou Touré, who had heard Sekouba sing in a local band, insisted that he leave Bembeya Jazz, Guinea´s most well known group. It was then that he was christened with the name "Bambino" so that audiences would not confuse him with the guitarist Sekou Diabaté.
Solo recordings and CD´s followed as well as a career as the frontman of celebrated band Africando. In 1994 he released the album ”Syli nationale” (National elephant). Sekouba remains unfailingly loyal to his west african fanbase, so we are very proud we have been able to entice him northwards to the Arts Festival of North Norway.
During 2014´s festival the Nigerian Dele Sosimi touched our hearts with his afrobeat, spontaneity and good humour. We are convinced that those who come and see Sekouba Bambino and his band will leave the hall smiling, and go out into the midnight sun dancing!