Ablaye Badji Band
The Badji Band is a group created by Senegalese musician and kora player Ablaye Badji, a multi-instrumentalist and a member of the renowned griot family, the Cissokos. In West African societies, griots serve as cultural ambassadors, carrying cultural knowledge and the identity of the people.
They are storytellers, lyricists, and musicians who are also respected as sources of advice and spiritual guidance. Griots play a vital role in key ceremonies, such as naming ceremonies and weddings. Ablaye inherited his love for music from his grandfather, Kemo Cissoko, one of the best kora players of his generation, and his mother, Ma Awa Cissoko, a traditional singer who would take him to concerts when he couldn’t even walk yet. Ablaye was born and raised in Ziguinchor, Senegal, surrounded by the cultural richness and music of his ancestors. He began his musical education by delving into the intricacies of playing traditional instruments like the djembe, sabar, and seourouba. His family home, filled with many siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, and elders, was constantly filled with music. This musical immersion in such a natural environment as a child laid a solid foundation for Ablaye’s musical development.
International concert tours with his uncle’s band, “The Golden Kora Band,” took Ablaye’s musical skills to the next level. For the past ten years, the artist has been living and creating in Poland, where through personal and collective experiences, he has built a unique musical identity that blends tradition with experimentation in contemporary music. The melodies he plays on the kora, whether as a soloist, in duets, or with bands, have graced various stages. Ablaye has performed with many well-known artists such as:
Richard Bona (bass)
Solo Cissokho (kora)
Seckou Keïta (kora)
James Karter (saxophone)
Maria Pomianowska (violin)
Piotr Damasiewicz (trumpet)
Mela Koteluk (singer)
CBB Ensemble (band)
Foliba (band)
Ablaye Badji released his first mini-album (EP) “Sabaro” in 2015. In 2022, his latest single “Natural” was released. Currently, the musician is working on material for his newest album, set to be released later this year!
