Artists

In addition to the many of local cultural groups and kafos performing their own cultural dances and ceremonies, here are some of the artists who have performed at previous festivals:

From Gambia

• The Army Band – Gambia Army’s own electric band performing popular Manding rhythms
• Badeema Family – Traditional musical theatre with drumming, dance and a
  fantastic dancing stilt-walker
• Berending Kumpo – Traditional village dance from the neighbouring village of Berending
• Fireman – Drumming and Dance with fire and more!
• Holy Family – Real rootsy Reggae with an afro-manding mix
• Jalibah Koyateh – One of the most respected Kora players in the Gambia playing traditional Mandinka songs with his electric band
• Karoninka – Music and dance of the Karoninkas with saxophone accompaniment
• Konjomby – Traditional drumming and dance from one of Kartong’s own popular groups
• Moriba Koyateh – Master kora builder, teacher and performer from Brikama
• Nanki Nanki – Amazing feats of magic and mystery from the Fula tradition
• Pa Bobo Jobarteh – Young master Kora player with a big following bringing new life into the traditional Manding songs
• Seidhou Band – Ever popular and much respected high energy players of electric afro-manding music
• Tata Dindin and the Salam Band – Kora with the powerful voice of Sifai on leading vocals
• Teremang – Highly danceable manding music from Brikama
• Zimba – Traditional Lion dance group based in Kartong
• DJ Pisces- Gambia’s top DJ
• Jalex – Ground-breaking Afro-manding artist

From Senegal

• Albadar – Traditional drumming and dance based on the ritual circumcision ceremonies.
• Bantang Woro – Theatre with drum and dance from the Casamance
• Dimbaya – Ballet, theatre, dance and acrobatics from the well established group founded by Malo and Apai Sonko
• Dombondir Kumpo – Casamance village dances with Seruba drumming accompaniment
• Caramala – Powerful drumming and dance from the Mandinka tradition
• Kulembeng Jazz – African style jazz blended with traditional rhythms from Kaffountine in the Casamance
• Mama Africa – Traditional ballet with the youngest group from the Karoninkas of Abene, led by the Abene Festival organiser Bernard Diatta
• Modou Diouf – High energy Sabar drumming and dance
• Tigru – Electric band from Dianna in the Casamance playing a mix of Afro-manding rhythms
• Wakile – Drum and Dance group from Abene

Masked dancer on stilts

From Sierra Leone

• Cotton Tree – Magic, Theatre and Dance

From Bakina Faso

• Adama Drammeh

From UK

• Crooked Sixpence – Contempory folk duo working with local artists to develop new exciting cross-cultural performance
• Billy Salisbury, the Undercover Hippy – Bristol based singer-songwriter using loop stations
• Sankofa – Sabar Drummers

From USA

• Joe Driscoll