Amidst numerous collaborations, Bao Sissoko encountered Wouter Vandenabeele’s violin over ten years ago in the project La musique d’Issa Sow, centered around Senegalese traditional violinist Issa Mbaye Diary Sow. Since then, they have formed an inseparable bond, performing together in ensembles such as Tamala and other configurations like Chansons. As a duo, they share an extraordinary connection, creating a marvelous tension between tradition and improvisation.

Born in a family of Senegalese griots, Bao Sissoko is renowned for his virtuoso playing of the kora and calabash. He has played with major artists such as Baaba Maal and expanded his repertoire after moving to Belgium, collaborating with artists such as Malick Pathe Sow, Zap Mama, Vaya Con Dios and Damon Albarn. He is also a member of the Auster Loo collective and worked on Mamy Kanouté’s album “Mousso Lou”. Bao has performed at prestigious venues and festivals around the world, including Roskilde, the Forde Festival, the Frankfurt Philharmonic, Bozar, Sauti Za Busari in Zanzibar and the Rainforest Festival in Borneo.

Violinist living in Ghent, Wouter Vandenabeele loves to explore and discover diverse music. He performed various concerts alongside Senegalese traditional violinist Issa Sow. He also directed the prestigious Hadzidakis project for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (with among others the Madredeus singers). He recorded about twenty albums and gave several hundred performances with Ambrozijn, Olla Vogala (his world music orchestra), Bared Ataï with which he played in Morocco and Belgium, Zuiderwind (EMI) in collaboration with South African musicians (concerts in Belgium and South Africa). He also worked with Steve Houben, Erik Vermeulen, Savina Yanatou, Philippe Thuriot, Ex Tempore…