BALA-BILA: Balla Kouyate & Matchume Zango

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | BALA-BILA brings together two African master musicians—Balla Kouyate on balafon, calabash, bass guitar and voice, and Matchume Zango on timbila, mbira, percussion and voice—through a live concert framed as an intercultural musical conversation between the two artists. Kouyate, from the West African country of Mali, and Zango, from the East African country of Mozambique, are leading exponents of their respective principal instruments—balafon and timbila—two world heritage instruments that are played together for the first time. This living-room-style concert features Kouyate and Zango as composers and multi-instrumentalists sharing the joy, beauty, and complexity of their music but also provides a unique opportunity for the audience to get to know Kouyate and Zango as human beings, artists, ambassadors, and global citizens as they explore their connection to each other, their art, and their cultural patrimony.

Balla Kouyate is a renowned balafon player and “djeli” who is originally from Mali and currently based in the U.S. Kouyate teaches at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, has collaborated with artists such as Yo Yo Ma and Andjelique Kidjo, and is recognized by the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts as an NEA National Heritage Fellow.

Matchume Zango is a master timbila player, percussionist, composer and producer from Maputo, Mozambique. He has a Masters Degree in Music Performance from the University of Cape Town and has toured extensively throughout the world and collaborated with local and international artists. Zango has received funding support from international donor agencies, and has built Nzango Artist Residency, a recording studio and artist residency where he collaborates with local and visiting artists.