Bokanté - History

On their third album, Bokanté have plugged into the blues, tracing the genre's roots in West Africa and the Arab world through the diaspora into the retro-modern present. These nine tracks tell — with lyrics sung mainly in Guadeloupean Creole — of outsiders and seers, memories and joy; of black history, global unity and the futility of war. Of taking time to rest, feel, love. Of the redemptive power of music — as a conduit, a change maker, a muse.

Malika Tirolien vocals
Weedie Braimah djembe, congas
Keita Ogawa congas, dohola, cymbal, chains, claps, bendir, bells, darbuka, surdo, caixa, riq, krakeb, kanjira, timbau, bomb legüero
Jamey Haddad Kuwaiti tar, ocean drum, finger cymbal, chains, bells, claps, kanjira, cowbell, shekere, palm brushes, vocal percussion, bendir, darbuka, metal pots, anklung
André Ferrari bombo legüero, frame drum, bells, grouse pipe, bass drum
Michael League guimbre, electric oud, electric bass, vocals, claps, ngoni, krakeb
Chris McQueen electric and acoustic guitars
Bob Lanzetti electric and acoustic guitars, nylon string guitar
Roosevelt Collier lap steel guitar