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Artists overview

Tamala

Belgo-Senegalese Quartet

Tamala, whose name means “travelers”, embodies the spirit of exploration, delving into the endless possibilities of blending the kora, violin, harmonica and voice. Guided by a natural musical alchemy, Tamala’s musicians move between tradition and innovation, strength and subtlety, dream and reality, north and south.

In their third album “Diboli“, Tamala officially presents itself as a quartet, with harmonica player and guitarist Olivier Vander Bauwede as the band’s new member. Diboli, a border town between Senegal and Mali where Mola Sylla’s ancestors come from, symbolises the link with the past. The album is a tribute to all the musicians who have contributed to West Africa’s rich musical traditions but whose names have often disappeared throughout history. It also stands for the ancestors who have supported the development of humanity in their own manner. Each note on the album exudes this spiritual link with the past in a contemporary context.

Musically, Tamala showcases their versatility in this album. Of course, there is the powerful voice of Mola Sylla, who not only keeps you captivated until the very last note but also surprises with an impressive range of self-made instruments. Kora virtuoso Bao Sissoko stands out as a gifted soloist with a keen sense of rhythm, as well as a talented composer. On the violin, the highly versatile Wouter Vandenabeele brings a contemporary European touch, making Tamala more than just the sum of its parts. A fourth musician, Olivier Vander Bauwede, has recently joined the project, adding bluesy tones to Tamala’s music with his harmonica.

Musicians :

Mola Sylla – voice, xalam (Senegal-NL)

Bao Sissoko – kora (Senegal-BE)

Wouter Vandenabeele – violin (BE)

Olivier Vander Bauwede – harmonica, guitar (BE)

Albums

Press

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…

Mola Sylla is a Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist who plays and makes traditional African instruments such as the mbira, kongoma (Senegalese lamellophone), xalam, and kalimba. He moved to Europe in 1987 and now lives in Amsterdam. His powerful and deep voice has led him to many collaborations, for instance with Omar Sosa, or in his jazz project with Ernst Reijseger and Harmen Fraanje. Mola enjoys exploring all dimensions of music and participated in several musical encounter projects with eclectic genres. He is also a founding member of Senemali and VeDaKi (a quartet of Senegalese, Russian and Indian music).

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.

Olivier Vander Bauwede is a harmonica player and multi-instrumentalist from Ghent, Belgium. As a player of both the chromatic as well as the diatonic harmonica, he has worked with several critically acclaimed artists in various genres of music, ranging from blues and jazz to pop, rock, folk and world music. Olivier participated in tribute concerts for Toots Thielemans and founded the Young Toots Collective. In the blues world, he is active with his band Paradise Stompers and was nominated for Best Instrumentalist by the Belgian Blues Association in 2024. He is the newest member of Tamala, where he can fully express his love for West African music and add his touch of blues.

Jazzmania.be (BE)
10/01/2022
Claudy Jalet

“A real success.”

MixedWorldMusic.com (NL)
10/12/2021
Rik van Boeckel

“Lumba is an album with a clear message, carried by beautiful West African music with lyrics written from the griot tradition in which both Mola Sylla and Bao Sissoko were brought up!”

Le Soir (BE)
02/12/2021
Thierry Coljon

“A haunting and majestic blues record, both choral and intimate, solar and introspective.”

Tropicalidad.be (BE)
01/12/2021

“With Lumba Tamala again creates a rock-solid album that can convince both substantively and musically!”

RTBF (BE)
26/11/2021

“Between Senegal and Belgium, the world full of humanity of the travelling musicians Tamala.”

KLOF MAGAZINE (UK)
25/11/2021
Philip Thomas

“Musically speaking, this fine CD is a bit like peeling an onion…with each new layer, you find something different to engage with.”

Le Monde (FR)
04/11/2021
Fabien Mollon

“Rubbed, pinched or vocal, their strings complement each other wonderfully…”

RootsWorld (US)
01/11/2021
Mike Adcock

“Just now and then, a record comes along in which everything about it seems to perfectly embody the broader intentions underlying the work. Lumba is a case in point.”

Blogfoolk Magazine (IT)
28/10/2021
Alessio Surian

“The pleasure in listening to them is confirmed by the release of “Lumba”, their second album, recorded partly in the studio and partly live.”

Larsen (BE)
01/10/2021
Jean-Pierre Goffin

“While respect for humans and nature is at the heart of this project, it was still necessary to express it with talent: Hallelujah, it is perfectly successful!

 

RNR Magazine (UK)
Norman Darwen

“… a very positive and rather beautiful album.”

5Planètes (FR)
Etienne Bours

“A record of a sweet freshness which however never lacks a gravity that is worth a great deal of our anger.”

Blogfoolk Magazine (IT)
28/02/2019
Alessio Surian

“The trio favours their own original compositions and the middle tenses that enhance the wide range of expression of Mola Sylla’s voice and the instrumental interweaving between kora and violin.”

RTBF (BE)
18/12/2018

“The trio Tamala explores the infinite possibilities of encounters between instruments and musical worlds.”

New Folk Sounds (NL)
25/05/2018

“Sizzling with tempered acoustic power, this album seals an interweaving of South and North, exudes an unprecedented cathartic musical warmth.”

ekultura.hu (HU)
25/03/2018
Galgóczi Tamás

“These musicians respect traditions audibly, but this does not prevent them from looking for new ways, for their own sound.”

Mixedworldmusic.com (NL)
16/12/2017
Ton Maas

“Sylla is therefore given plenty of room to enchant with his voice. The contrast between his emphatic presence as a singer and the light-heartedness of kora and violin, which dance around him, as it were, is striking.”

Music Republic Magazine (UK)
10/11/2017
Simon Redley

“It’s infectious and the only cure might be to listen some more!”

vrije geluiden (NL)
06/11/2017

“Music straight from the heart.”

Moorsmagazine.com (BE)
01/11/2017

“Sublime!”

Rebelbase.be
31/10/2017

“True gem of an album!”

Tropicalidad.be (BE)
25/10/2017

“Masterpiece!”

Muzikifan.com (US)
02/10/2017

“This trio was formed in the Low Countries, far from the hot deserts of West Africa. Yet they retain the arid raspy vocals and the sparkling strings reminiscent of glistening drops of water evaporating in the bright sun.”

Upcoming concerts

06/07/25 Park Festival (Leuven, BE)

Past concerts

12/12/24 De Centrale (Ghent, BE)
11/12/24 cc Het Bolwerk (Vilvoorde, BE)
22/11/24 CC Ter Vesten (Beveren, BE)
30/10/24 Atelier 210 (Album release) (Brussels, BE)
03/08/24 Jazzschmiede Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf, DE)
29/06/24 Wereldfeest Ieper (Ypres, BE)
25/04/24 Kora Days @Muziekpublique (Brussels , BE)
20/04/24 Halle du Bouillon Blanc (Bouillon , BE)
19/04/24 Le ROx (Rouvroy, BE)
10/03/24 Brosella Spring (Brussels , BE )
19/11/23 CC Action-Sud (Nismes, BE)
06/10/23 Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège (Liège, BE)
11/08/23 Folkfestival Ham (Ham, BE)
17/05/23 Merodefestival ( BE)
11/01/23 Le Stock (La Louvière, BE)
15/10/22 Musica Parola (Sint-Martens-Bodegem, BE)
25/09/22 September me (Amersfoort, NL)
24/06/22 St. Maria im Kapitol Köln (Koln , DE)
17/06/22 Fête de la Musique (Jette, BE)
12/06/22 CC Asse (Asse, BE)
06/06/22 Music Meeting Festival (Nijmegen, NL)
04/04/22 Le Rocher de Palmer (Cenon, FR)
03/04/22 Pauline-Sels-Saal im Romaneum (Neuss, DE)
13/02/22 CC le Sablon (Morlanwelz, Belgique)
12/02/22 De X (Leiden, NL)
25/11/21 La petite Fabriek (Tournai , BE )
16/10/21 CC Muze (Heusden-Zolder, BE)
08/10/21 CC Comines-Warneton (Comines-Warneton , BE)
03/10/21 CC Asse (Asse, BE)
01/10/21 Muziekpublique (Brussles, BE)
05/09/21 Het Koelhuis (Zutphen, NL)
04/09/21 MIMIK (Deventer, NL)
03/09/21 Akoesticum (Ede, NL)
14/08/21 CC Muze (Heusden-Zolder, BE)
13/08/21 Micro Festival! (Dortmund , DE)
08/08/21 CCAS Tour (Pelvezy, FR)
07/08/21 CCAS Tour (Ares - Bassin d'Arcachon , FR)
06/08/21 CCAS Tour (Saint Georges de Didonne , FR)
05/08/21 CCAS Tour (La Rochelle , FR)
04/08/21 CCAS Tour (Chinon, FR)
03/08/21 CCAS Tour (Amboise les Violettes , FR)
01/08/21 CCAS Tour (Dives sur Mer, FR)
31/07/21 CCAS Tour (Auberville, FR)
30/07/21 CCAS Tour (Ponches, FR)
29/07/21 CCAS Tour (Merlimont G , FR)
18/07/21 Open air (Hamm     , DE)
17/07/21 Open air (Gelsenkirchen, DE)
11/07/21 Festival van Kortrijk (Kortrijk, BE)
05/07/21 Handelsbeurs (Gent, BE)
17/06/21 Färberei (Wuppertal, DE)
15/06/21 Pauluskirche (Hamm     , DE)
14/06/21 Marina Rünthe ( Bergkamen, DE)
11/06/21 Bleckkirche (Gelsenkirchen, DE)
08/06/21 Paterskirche Franziskanerkloster (Kempen  , DE)
06/06/21 Hangar 21   (Detmold  , DE)
02/06/21 Jazzschmiede ( Düsseldorf   , DE)
28/05/21 Muziekpublique- Album Release (Brussels , BE)
23/05/21 CC Sint-Niklaas (Sint-Niklaas , BE)
02/05/21 Festival van Kortrijk (Kortrijk , BE)
10/01/21 Beaux-Arts de Lille (Lille, FR)
19/06/20 Bleckkirche (Gelsenkirchen, DE)
18/06/20 Wuppertal (Wuppertal, DE)
17/06/20 Krypta Sankt Michael (Köln, DE)
16/06/20 Lutherkirche (Hamm, DE)
14/06/20 Aula Theodorianum (Paderborn, DE)
08/06/20 Trauzimmer Marina Rünthe (Bergkamen, DE)
03/06/20 Jazzschiemde (Düsseldorf, DE)
01/06/20 Pfingstfestival (Detmold, DE)
08/12/19 Bunderkunst ('s-Heer Arendskerke, NED)
23/11/19 CC Braives-Burdinne (Braives, BE)
22/11/19 CC Escale du Nord (Brussels, BE)
28/09/19 CC Blegny (Blegny, BE)
01/09/19 Basilique d'Avioth ( BE)
21/06/19 KAS (Kapellen, BE)
03/05/19 Bij' De Vieze Gasten (Gent, BE)
27/04/19 Kultuurschuur (Wetteren, BE)
27/03/19 Arsonic (Mons, BE)
23/03/19 Old Roots & New Routes (Amsterdam, NED)
17/03/19 GC De Wildeman (Winksele, BE)
22/02/19 Centro Culturale Candiani (Venise, IT)
02/02/19 Cultuurfabiek (Damme, BE)
27/01/19 Kulturzentrum Alter Schlachthof (Eupen, BE)
23/01/19 deSingel (Antwerpen, BE)
12/01/19 Theater de Garage (Venlo, NL)
09/12/18 Groeten uit Oisterwijk (Oisterwijk , NL)
09/11/18 ProJazz (Den Haag, NL)
21/09/18 CC Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve ( BE)
19/09/18 De Leest (Izeghem , BE)
07/09/18 PAS-Festival (Maastricht, NL)
03/09/18 Festival musicale del mediterraneo (Genoa, IT)
25/08/18 Café Le Parc (Liège, BE)
22/08/18 Festival d'Art de Huy (Huy, BE)
05/08/18 Vondelpark Openluchttheater (Amsterdam, NL)
28/07/18 WOMAD Festival (Wiltshire, UK)
20/07/18 Beleuvenissen (Leuven, BE)
07/07/18 Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival (Brussels, BE)
23/06/18 Festival New City Sessions (Roeselare, BE)
28/05/18 Les Octaves de la Musique (Bruxelles, BE)
22/05/18 Belgian World Music Meeting (Brussel, BE)
19/05/18 Les Goûts de Gand (Gent , BE)
21/04/18 Schoon Folk Festival (Genk, BE)
06/04/18 15 years Muziekpublique (Brussels, BE)
13/01/18 La Venerie (Bruxelles, BE)
09/12/17 Maison des Cultures de Saint-Gilles (Bruxelles , BE )
25/11/17 Ferme de la Dîme (Wasseiges, BE)
15/11/17 Vrije Geluiden Live (Utrecht, NL )
05/11/17 Muziekclub ’t Ey Belsele (Belsele, BE)
13/10/17 Muziekpublique (Bruxelles , BE)
04/05/17 Handelsbeurs Concertzaal (Gand , BE)
29/04/17 Chappelle de Verre (Ronquières, BE)
Management

Elena Luro – elena@muziekpublique.be

Booking

Elena Luro (BE/EN) – elena@muziekpublique.be

Martha Vandermeulen (NL) – martha@muziekpublique.be

label@muziekpublique.be

Tel : +32 2 217 26 0