Description
A magical and inspirational collaboration between musicians from Burkina Faso - including West African griot and balafon player Seydou "Kanazoe" Diabate and guitarist Abdoulaye "Debademba" Traore - alongside French jazz vocalist and flutist Clotilde Rullaud. In the streets of Burkina Faso, the phrase "ka nana ye" can be heard everywhere. It means "it's not easy" but also implies that things will be okay. With the album Kananaye, which takes its name from this popular saying, things can only get better. Its foundational multiculturalism, conscious lyrics, intertwined traditions, and contemporary grounding are essential qualities in these times when optimism has become a survival virtue. It's not easy, but it will get better - provided we make the effort, crossing borders where others seek to close them. Clotilde Rullaud, Abdoulaye Traore, Achille Nacoulma, Seydou Diabate and Boubacar Djiga, the creators of Kananaye, are dedicated to this cause.
Seydou "Kanazoe" Diabate: balafon, percussion, vocals, composition
Abdoulaye "Debademba" Traore: guitars, composition
Clotilde Rullaud: vocals, flute, composition
Boubacar Djiga: kunde, percussion, composition
Achille Nacoulma: drums, percussion, vocals, composition
All arrangements by the members of Kananaye
Recorded in Brussels and Bobo-Dioulasso during December 2023 and January 2024
Mixed and mastered in NYC - February and March 2024
