BABA SISSOKO
Baba Sissoko is a master of the unexpected. Born in Bamako into a legendary dynasty of Malian griots, he carries the weight of a thousand-year-old tradition while relentlessly pushing it toward the future. His mantra—“It’s getting closer and closer but I’m not there yet”—defines an artist in constant motion, a journey that has led him to share stages and visions with global icons like Damon Albarn, Youssou N'Dour, Ry Cooder, and The Art Ensemble Of Chicago.
His mastery was officially cemented when he became the first Malian to receive the prestigious Obaland Award for Best African Jazz Musician, a testament to his unique ability to speak the language of jazz through the soul of Africa.
At Blind Faith Records, Baba has found the perfect laboratory to deconstruct and rebuild his sound. From the mystical recordings of Three Gees to the electronic evolution of the ngoni in Fasiya, his work is a visceral dialogue between soil and soul.
Through his long-standing partnership with producer Luca Sapio, Baba continues to strip away boundaries, blending ancestral secrets with a modern, uncompromising grit. As new collaborations unfold under the BFR roof, he remains a force of nature—reinventing his legacy with every single session.
In Bambara, "Doni Doni" means "step by step." As the most beloved and representative track of the project, this hypnotic mantra is a powerful invitation to slow down in a frantic digital world. Captured strictly live on analog tape, its warm, enveloping groove perfectly sets the tone for a deeper journey.
Forget the legend that the blues was born in the Mississippi Delta. Its true DNA is rooted much further away, in the red soil of West Africa.
Baba Sissoko, one of the last and greatest living master griots, brought this ancient heritage into our studio to breathe life into Three Gees. It is not just a record, but a magical encounter of three generations: the ancestral wisdom of his mother Djeli Mah Damba Koroba, the present strength of Baba, and the youthful light of his daughter Djana Sissoko.
An authentic Afro-roots gem, recorded with no filters and no studio gimmicks, where the sound of Mali blooms into a new, vibrant melody of hope.
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Sicher eines der besten Alben des Jahres im Genre Afrobeat (mindestens): "Fasiya", das Duett des großen malischen Griot-Musikers Baba Sissoko und seiner Tochter Djana - groovt höllisch!
Hamburger Abendblatt (DE)
Und noch mal die sprechenden Trommeln Malis: Deren Großmeisteister Baba Sissoko teilt sich auf seinem neuen Album "fasiya" (BFR) die Gesangsparts mit seiner Tochter Djana Sissoko. Den subtilen futuristichen Funk aber liefert der Berliner Max Weissebfeldt am Schlagzeug sowie eine einedruksvolle Begleitband, in der Bläser, Gitarren und traditionelle Instrumente wie die elektrisch verstärke Ngoni-Laute Loops weben - und in faffinierten Breaks wieder aufbrechen.
Süddeutsche Zeitung (DE)
Enregistré en analogique, ce cocktail presque mystique est un écrin détonant à la voix envoûtante et mélancolique de Djana qui chante en bambara, l’anglais et en français la fierté de l'héritage culturel africain.
Radio Fip (FR)
Some albums are bold musical statements, works that defy convention to forge new paths. Fasiya is exactly that kind of analog jewel.
Master griot Baba Sissoko, backed by an outstanding band, crafts powerful loops of traditional instruments, horns, and electric guitars over relentless, futuristic funk rhythms. Featuring evocative vocal contributions from his daughter Djana—who sings the pride of her African roots in Bambara, English, and French—the album is a hypnotic, layered collaboration.
Celebrated by the European press for its raw, uncompromising magic, Fasiya stands out as one of the most fascinating, sought-after, and courageous productions in our catalog.
Hit play and step into a hypnotic groove. Translating to "paternal heritage," the title track Fasiya is a raw, futuristic Afro-funk manifesto. It's the sound of master griot Baba Sissoko passing his ancient magic down to his daughter Djana—a deep, driving rhythm where tradition meets tomorrow.
