Traditional and Electric West African Orchestra

Alseny Diallo and Kikeyambay, an exciting new musical project blossoming out of Victoria, BC, is born out of a collaboration between Diallo’s deep knowledge of Guinean modern and traditional music, and the passion of Victoria’s Dancing Moon Multicultural Arts Company director, Ilana Moon. Kikeyambay brings a dynamic, energetic traditional West African drum and dance show and a 12-piece Electric Afrofusion Orchestra.
A famed soloist and master djembe player from Guinea, Alseny Diallo has performed at internationally known djembefola Mamady Keita’s events and many other nationally sponsored festivals and competitions in his country. He has a gift for teaching and sharing the rhythms of his culture and is considered one of the best djembé players in Canada. He has performed at various festivals and theatre shows with 5 Juno award-winner Alpha YaYa Diallo and Naby Camara, as well as Yamoussa Bangara, artistic director of the celebrated acrobatic drum and dance troupe Kalabanté.
Teaching the complexities of the rhythms and culture of Guinea to a set of talented, skillful Victoria musicians from as varied backgrounds as reggae, jazz, Zimbabwean, gospel, soul, bellydance, and circus arts, has created a lively, dynamic electric orchestra with a unique and upbeat authentically Afro-Canadian vibe.
Partnered with dancers from the Dancing Moon Multicultural Arts Company, under the instruction of Ilana Moon, the group also explores traditional drum and dance rhythms, honoring the ancestral cultural traditions of the Malinké and Susu people.
Alseny Diallo and Kikeyambay offer a chance to dance, be joyful and revel in the African way of music as a vital and fundamental part of everyday life. The musicians, the dancers, and everyone within earshot of this music become an integral part of the music, whether they are nodding their heads, tapping their toes, or experiencing a full spirited explosion of dance.
More About Alseny Diallo & Kikeyambay

The 3-part show begins in the legendary forest of Mande, where spirits and animals teach us about the revered importance of the Griot, keeper of oral history, and his favored place among both royalty and the spirit world.

The Griot’s song is continued through the language of rhythm in the tireless 20 minute traditional drum and dance set where Diallo’s talking djembé orchestrates a rich and complex conversation between a chorus of dunun, sangban and kenkeni drums, and the Dancing Moon dancers who both move and drum to the intricate beats, seamlessly weaving together 12 different rhythms without a pause.

The precise knowledge and understanding of the many parts, variations and uses of the timeless traditional rhythms not only qualify Diallo as a master djembé player, but also allow him to masterfully arrange rhythms, at times fusing African styles with reggae riffs, tropical pulse and world beat sounds.

Enter the third and longest part of the show, which is the full Kikeyambay electric afrofusion orchestra.  Complete with bass, drum kit, 2 guitars, dununs, hosho, an accompaniment djembé, and 3-part vocal harmony lead by Diallo’s charismatic djembé and vocal stage presence, the grooves are as contagious as the smiles and the good vibes radiated by the 12 piece band, and their catchy dance moves are sure to spread across the dance floor. 

 “The djembé and its rhythms have a life – they live like we do… Traditional rhythm represents life itself.  It expresses what one does, wants to do or has done.  In Africa, there are no expressions of joy without rhythm.  And we have many opportunities to be joyful in our lives”

Mamady Keita