Yacouba Diabaté is a Master Kora player born in Burkina Faso, West Africa. His family, the Griot family, are well-known musicians and as a young adult, Yacouba studied the Kora in Mali with renown Kora master, Toumani Diabate. Yacouba has brought his music to France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Belgium as well as the United States. Yacouba also makes and sells traditional African string and percussion instruments in addition to teaching instrumental music to both youth and adults.

Sidi Mohamed Camara, popularly known as “Joh,” was born in Bamako, Mali in West Africa. Surrounded by great artists and musicians as a child, Joh started traditional dance and drumming at the age of five. On his father’s side, he comes from the Camara ancestry that ruled in Mande Society. However, he mastered the art of music and dance from his mother, Fanta Kamissoko, a well-known Jali. Jalis, also known as Griots, are highly venerated in their traditional society as skilled oral historians who are not only singers, storytellers, and musicians, but also advisors and mediators.

Along with several other African percussionists, both artists will put on a showcase featuring West African music at the Morna Lounge and Grill on Friday, June 10th.