BALIMAYA PROJECT

Led by composer, arranger and djembe master Yahael Camara Onono, Balimaya Project stands at the forefront of a new wave of African diasporic music. The 16-piece collective bridges the ancestral rhythms of the Mandé peoples of West Africa with the creative energy of London’s contemporary jazz, soul and hip-hop scenes, forging a sound both rooted and radical.

Following the release of their acclaimed debut Wolo So (2021) and the expansive When the Dust Settles (2023),Balimaya Project have earned widespread praise for their musical depth and social resonance. The Guardian described their work as “a thrilling conversation between Africa and the diaspora,” while Jazzwise hailed it as “a vital, rhythmically explosive expression of contemporary Black British identity.” Songlines called them “one of the most important ensembles to emerge from the UK jazz scene in a generation.”

The group has headlined sold-out shows at London’s Barbican, appeared at WOMAD, and performed internationally in Austin (Texas), Abu Dhabi, and Dakar (Senegal) — bringing their vision of musical kinship to global stages.

Balimaya Project have collaborated with artists including Obongjayar, Odumodublvck, Afronaut Zu, and Davido,extending their reach across genres and continents. Winners of the Songlines Music Award and recipients of a British Arts International Collaboration Grant, Balimaya Project continue to redefine the sound of African diasporic expression — bold, spiritual, and profoundly human.