The Dance Hall Presents Djékady w/ Balla Kouyaté, Mike Block + Mike Rivard
About this Event
Djékady, a Mandinka phrase that means “coming together is good,” is a fiery six-piece band led by Grammy-winning musicians Balla Kouyaté (balafon, vocals) and Mike Block (cello, vocals) that puts Malian music into conversation with American folk music and contemporary styles. Featuring Mamoudou Konate (djembe), Idrissa Koné (talking drum, calabash, percussion, vocals), Luke Okerlund (guitar), and Mike Rivard (bass, sintir), the band’s energetic nature and deep appreciation for each other’s cultures create an unexpected and beautiful display of music without limitations.
As soon as Balla Kouyaté was old enough to sit up, his father placed a mallet in his hand. If their 800-year-old lineage of balafon players were a baobab tree, Balla would be its newest branch. The Kouyaté family are griots, or djelis, from the village of Niagassola on the Mali-Guinea border. In West African culture, djelis are more than just eminent musicians — they are storytellers, soothsayers and peacemakers. They transmit their oral history like a long game of telephone across generations. Djékady puts Malian music into conversation with American folk music and contemporary styles, allowing new shoots to sprout from Balla Kouyaté’s musical tree.
This concert is the Seacoast release party for Benkan, Djékady’s debut album. Meaning “agreement” in the Mandinka language, Benkan expands the possibilities of American music by celebrating the cultural richness shaped by global connection.
$28 advance | $33 day-of | $18 student
*fees not included ($3 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
Funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 23.55 to USD 39.48
