King Marong & SAFARA

KING MARONG
Gambian Master Djembe Drummer, Percussionist, Singer, Composer,
Teacher and Cultural Ambassador.

Born in Bakau in The Gambia King has been performing professionally since the age of 12 in his coastal fishing village where he grew up with the griots and international musicians who were his mentors for Senegambian drumming and cultural priorities. In his late teens he formed his band Kunta Kinteh and consequently travelled with it in The Gambia, Senegal and Europe. King has built an international reputation as a master of many African drumming styles on instruments such as the Djembe, Doundoun and Sabar, teaching percussion to students from around the world.

Since arriving in Australia, King has developed a reputation as being a versatile and dynamic performer. His involvement in many collaborative projects has enabled him to work with both local and international musicians including energetic live percussive dance music with local DJ’s, to the sleek and sophisticated ‘afro-jazz-reggae-funk’ fusion Afro Mandinko sounds. Now a resident in Melbourne, King has taught percussion to students from the USA, Sweden, England, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Australia and Canada. He performs regularly at festivals, ceremonies, private celebrations, corporate functions and has been artist in residence at many government and private schools in Australia.

Safara formed in 2001 and is an acoustic percussion-based representation of the many traditional songs and dances performed for local Senegambian ceremonies in both the city and the villages. Safara’s repertoire ranges from fast tempo high energy drum and dance arrangements to gentle and melodic kora and vocal pieces that will captivate the spirit.

Safara incorporates vocals, djembe, sabar, doundoun, kora, dance, cow bell and shakers in a spiritually inspiring repertoire of dynamic tribal rhythms and visually stimulating costume and dance routines specific to Senegal and The Gambia. Safara’s repertoire ranges from fast tempo high energy drum and dance to gentle and melodic kora and vocal arrangements that will captivate the spirit.

Safara has performed locally and nationally at many of the countries leading music and arts festivals, receiving enthusiastic responses form festival goers and organisers alike.

“That was truly one of the very best shows we have ever had at Meredith in the whole 15 years – I’m talking about your gig – so thankyou very very much indeed. It was entertaining on so many levels, the crowd loved it, the crew loved it, you were a pleasure to deal with, it was a great thing”

- Matt High, Meredith Music Festival 2005

Safara is available for festivals, concerts, private functions, parties, workshops and school performances. Please contact King if you would like to experience Safara.

SAFARA PERFORMERS:

LAMINE SONKO
Percussionist, Dancer, Singer, Composer and Choreographer.

Lamine Sonko was born in Senegal, West Africa to a family of Griots. He began performing the dance, drum and song traditions of his culture when he was 10 yrs old. After only a short period, Lamine featured as a solo dancer, percussionist and vocalist in different local groups that are well-known in Senegal. He is a highly respected artist and griot, both in his own region and others, including Europe and Australia.

Lamine learned his craft while growing up in an artistic family. Most notably, his parents maintain the strongest influence on his talent. His father, Bouly Sonko, is presently The Director for ‘Le Ballet National Du Senegal’, and has been for 30 years. His mother, ‘Oumy Sene’, was the first solo dancer for ‘Le Ballet National Du Senegal’ and for ‘Doudou Ndiaye Rose’, who is a prominent figure in traditional Senegalese Sabar music. Lamine’s family is renowned and highly respected internationally.

His work as a performing artist has taken him on tours around Senegal and internationally. A most recent highlight was a feature performance at the popular music event ‘Festival Ebony de Dakar’, 2004, where he danced alongside Senegalese Diva, ‘Vivianne Ndour’. He has also performed alongside international singers such as ‘Youssou Ndour’ and ‘Fatou Nguewel Diouf’.

Lamine’s family live and work extensively as custodians of Senegalese traditions in places such as Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia. Subsequently, Lamine has been teaching what he knows to people from all over the world since he was 12 years old. He is a versatile and talented artist, capable of rich musical fusions with artists of the ‘Jazz’, ‘Hip hop’, ‘Funktap’, ‘DJ’ and ‘Contemporary African’ genres. After such a short time in Australia, Lamine is a sought after performer and teacher of West African dance and drum. His ability to inspire audiences and students is awesome. His dancing and drumming style is swift, stylish and electrifying. He has a spiritual edge that reaches into people’s hearts and is ever pervading.

KARAMBA SISOKO
Percussionist, Drummer, Singer.

Karamba Sisoko was born in Cassamance in Senegal, West Africa into a family of Griots.
Whilst still a child, his family established their own school of music entitled, Ballet l’Afrique, in Sali Nbour in Senegal which was composed of mostly immediate family and relatives. Highly respected local and international artists, the school is now in its fourth decade and is currently led by his brother, Modou Sisoko. Ballet l’Afrique is a successful touring company that performs regularly in both West Africa and Europe. A member of Ballet l’Afrique, Karamba studied from an early age the rhythms and songs inherited from his family. An extraordinary cultural education he performed there for many years.

He then moved to The Gambia performing with various drumming and dance companies, African cultural ensembles and ethnic groups. Here he met local djembe master, King Marong, and together played in international hotels and local venues. Whilst in Bakau he established an international network to promote Senegambian culture through drum and dance to visiting international students from The UK, The USA, Sweden, France, Belgium, Italy and Germany. His Griot rites and responsibilities demanded he perform locally with the community in traditional naming and wedding ceremonies.

Since arriving in Australia in 2005 he has performed at Womadelaide 2005 with Jali Buba Kouyateh and King Marong & Safara in Melbourne.

BECK MATTHEWS
Kora trumpet and doundoun player, singer.

Beck is a classically trained musician (trumpet, piano, percussion) and singer with a passion for West African music. She has been involved in musical and theatrical productions ranging from theatre and classical music recital to choreographing and performing with a fire performance group for the opening of the Alice Springs Festival in 2002. In 2003 she went on a cultural study tour to The Gambia with King Marong and studied the twenty-one stringed Kora (African Harp). Studying under the master Kora players, Jali Mustafar Kouyate and Jali Buba Kuyate she attended classes for 4 months and embraced the music and the culture she was surrounded by. Beck has since been performing with King Marong as Safara’s kora and doundoun player and sings and plays with King Marong in Afro Mandinko

LAMINE SONKO Percussionist, Dancer, Singer, Composer and Choreographer with KING MARONG Gambian Master Djembe Drummer, Percussionist, Singer, Composer, Teacher and Cultural Ambassador.

LAMINE SONKO
Percussionist, Dancer, Singer, Composer and Choreographer.

KHADIM SOHKNA
Percussionist, Drummer, Dancer and Singer.

Click here for a list of SAFARA's up coming gig's.

Email King Marong at kingmarong@yahoo.com