Bamba Wassoulou Groove

Founded in the West African music hub of Bamako in 2013, the Bamba Wassoulou Groove is blasting Malian music into the 21^st century with their distinctive and infectious sound.

They carry on the legacy of the Super Djata Band, one of Mali’s hottest groups of the 1980s, and the Super Rail Band, who were among the first groups to combine Afro-Cuban influences with electrified guitar-driven Manding music. This band is a groove machine that builds on that foundation with swirling, snaking guitars creating a wall of sound. It’s topped by the warm compelling voice of singer Ousmane Diakité, who sounds a bit like a Malian incarnation of Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett. Joining them are two veterans of the Super Rail Band: ace drummer Maguett Diop and guitarist Moussa Diabaté, who stems from an age-old family line of griot music masters. Rounding out the group is rock-influenced guitar of Mamadou “Bainy” Diabaté and bassist Aboubacar “Papis” Diombana.

Described as “West African guitar playing at its finest” by RootsWorld, the Bamba Wassoulou Groove are one of the top practitioners of the unmistakable and irresistible, guitar-driven modern Malian sound–this is intense dance music!

– EM