Mamadou and Vanessa Sidibe and their band perform multi-award winning music from the Wassoulou Region of Mali, West Africa; an original blend of blues and traditional West African rhythms.

Mamadou Sidibe

Master kamale ngoni player Mamadou Sidibe is from the Wassoulou Region of Mali, West Africa.

Twenty-five years ago Mamadou played a groundbreaking role in transforming the music of this region from its origins in hunters' sacred melodies — played on six string donso ngoni (hunter's harps) — to a music of philosophical observations, politics and daily life.

Mamadou Sidibe was one of the first to expand the instrument's range with two extra strings, creating the popular kamale ngoni. He has recently enhanced the kamale ngoni even further, by creating 10 and 12 string kamale ngoni. Mamadou Sidibe, with artists Coumba Sidibe, Oumou Sangare and Ramatu Diakite, spread the new sounds through recordings and performances in Europe, Africa and the United States. Not only is Mamadou Sidibe a master of the kamale ngoni, he is accomplished on several other African instruments as well.

Vanessa Sidibe

Vanessa Sidibe, originally from New York, is an accomplished Afro-Cuban and salsa musician. She has performed, recorded and taught in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City for over 15 years. She brings earthy depth and ethereal sensuality to all her vocals whether singing in English, Bambara or Spanish. In addition, her time spent in Havana, Cuba, shows with her impeccable rhythm on percussion.