A Djinn And A Hunter Went Walking (2025)

"Two traditional instrumentalists from Mali, but from different cultures. Neba Solo, who also sings, is one of the most respected balafon (xylophone) players and Benego Diakité plays the donso n’goni, the hunters’ harp. It looks rather like a kora, but has just four to six strings and is tuned lower. They were not traditionally played together. Neba and Benego met when the former was invited by producer Nick Gold to guest on Wassoulou singer Oumou Sangaré’s album "Seya". Gold and Malian producer Ousmane Haïdara liked the meeting of balafon and donso n’goni so much that they decided to record together. The result is spectacular. Apart from the two there are male and female vocalists, strings, mellotron keyboard and drums. Of course, these elements bring much more variety to the sound, though the deep, funky sounds of balafon and donso n’goni are at its heart. There is a lovely second CD of the original duo recordings, made under a mango tree in a Bamako garden. A superb package." (Songlines; 5 uit 5 sterren!)