Malian-born, Oslo-based percussionist, cultural ambassador, and Spellemannprisen winner Sidiki Camara returns with Ankaben—a title that translates to “Humanity”. Released on September 4, 2026, the album builds a musical bridge between traditional Manding rhythms, West African heritage, and Norwegian jazz, folk, and contemporary sounds. Developed out of his acclaimed 2024 Oslo World project, A Life in Music, the album reflects Camara’s belief that spontaneous artistic collaboration can connect people across geographical and cultural divides.
Recorded in June 2026 at Oslo’s legendary Rainbow Studio and mixed/mastered by Martin Abrahamsen, Ankaben features an all-star ensemble of Norwegian talent: saxophonist Bendik Hofseth, vocalists Unni Løvlid and Sarah Camille, fiddler Erik Sollid, bassist Audun Erlien, and guitarists Jacob Young and Eirik Askerøi. Backed by rich percussion, warm acoustic instrumentation, and expressive spoken word, the compositions layer traditional West African polyrhythms under subtle jazz improvisations and Nordic folk textures.
Across a career spanning five decades—including past collaborations with Boubacar Traoré, Bill Frisell, Ali Farka Touré, and Esperanza Spalding—Camara has used rhythm as a universal language. Coming on the heels of an honor from the Malian government recognizing his lifelong cultural contributions, Ankaben stands as an uplifting, masterfully crafted testament to peace, togetherness, and cross-cultural dialogue.
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