Malian-born and Oslo-based percussionist Sidiki Camara is set to release ‘Ankaben’, his most ambitious project to date. The album brings together an ensemble of Norwegian jazz, folk and contemporary musicians, continuing his lifelong exploration of Malian musical traditions through collaboration and improvisation.
The title ‘Ankaben’ translates to “Humanity” and serves as the album’s guiding concept — a deeply personal expression of Camara’s belief in the power of music to connect people across cultures, genres and borders. The release follows his 2023 Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) win for ‘Return to the Traditions’.
Camara began playing music in Mali at just 10 or 11 years old, eventually choosing music over formal education to pursue a professional career. His journey has taken him from Bamako to Brussels, where he lived from 1989 to 2006, and ultimately to Oslo, where he has been based since 2006. ‘Ankaben’ represents the next step in a career dedicated to cross-cultural musical exchange.
