Seckou Keita - Homeland Band

Nicknamed "the Hendrix of the Kora", Seckou has been celebrated for his ingenious tunings and virtuosity and praised as "one of the finest exponents of the kora".

Performing all over the globe as a solo artist and with his ground-breaking quintet, he has captivated audiences at WOMAD, Hay, Glastonbury, Tokyo Jazz, Chicago World Music Festival, Sydney International, Montreal Jazz Festivals and many more places.

Acclaimed collaborations with numerous jazz, pop, Latin, folk and classical artists, notably include Damon Albarn and the Africa Express; Welsh harpist Catrin Finch (at QH in 2022); Paul Weller and the Folk Collective; The Lost Words, Spell Songs (2019) joined by the words of Robert McFarlane and artwork of Jackie Morris. 

Overall, Seckou has released 11 albums as a leader and co-leader. Through this work, he has earned numerous accolades including three Songlines Music Awards, and several BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including 2019 Musician of the Year. "I don't know if I'm a folk musician, a jazz or a world one," he said at the time. "Forget about categories. My music is just music for the soul."

He began pulling together his Senegalese 8-piece band in 2020.

Here, the kora is backed with the dynamic, uplifting and at times hypnotic rhythms of bass, percussion, drums, keyboard and extraordinary vocals, that lifts the audience to its feet and leaves them buzzing!

The group includes one of Senegal's best known vocalists, Korka Dieng. Korka has performed with one of Senegal's finest rappers, Didier Awadi. She is well known for her versatility and distinctive vocals.

Joining them too is Moustapha Gaye, lead guitarist for Youssou n'Dour, who toured with Seckou in 2012 and features on his album 'Miro'. 'Homeland', the album will be released in 2024, and will produced by Seckou Keita and Moussa N’Gom.

Line up:

Seckou Keita: Kora, vocals
Moustapha Ngaye: guitar
Ernest Basse: Keyboards & samplings
Mouctar N'Diongue: drum kit , drum pad and backing vocals
Modou Gueye: bass
N'Dyeye Korka Dieng: backing vocals
Dialy Kemo Cissokho: percussion and backing vocals

Presented by The Queen's Hall

Photo Credit Aji Sakho