Sekouba Bambino

Sekouba Bambino grew up in a griot family in Guinea near the border with Mali. "When I was young, just after independence had been proclaimed, everyone wanted to be as modern as possible, so the griots weren't really respected, especially if they were artists or musicians. Those who chose an artistic career were regarded as parasites who belonged to the past. Today things have changed. The people of Guinea have understood that without the griots, my county's collective memory would have disappeared."

In the '60s, President Sekou Toure nationalized all of Guinea's musical ensembles. They were by definition political music groups. Sekouba Diabate performed with the orchestra known as Bembeya. "When I joined Bembeya, Afro-Cuban music was still all the rage. So later, when I joined Africando, it wasn't such a culture shock for me."

Sinikan is the newly released solo recording by Bambino. It shows the full range of styles that he's embraced in his career. You'll find a bit of Afro-Cuban mambo which has always been a popular draw across West Africa as well as the classic griot style. But the title that jumps out the most is a cover of an old James Brown hit.

"When I was a kid James Brown was already a hero in Africa. He really was our American uncle." And so, Sekouba Bambino Diabate offers his version of "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" in his language of Malinke. — Courtesy Calabash Music