AZA Band with Arouna Diarra & Biko Casini: Balafon & Ngoni Music

The Red Poppy Art House warmly welcomes the AZA Band–with Arouna Diarra, Biko Casini, and special guest Yacuba Diarra–for an evening of traditional music from Burkina Faso.

Inspired by the pulsing melodies and infectious dance grooves of the balafon, Tennessee native Biko traveled to Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city, to study djembe in 2007. Five years later, Arouna, born into a family of musicians in Bobo-Dioulasso, moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where he established himself as the bandleader of Mande Foly. Upon meeting in Asheville, Biko and Arouna began playing music together, and they are now touring the West Coast with Rising Appalachia. Arouna’s older brother Yacuba, a Bay Area resident and master kamele ngoni builder/player, joins them for their show at the Poppy.

Featuring:
Biko Casini – djembe, calabash, kamele ngoni
Arouna Diarra – dioula balafon, kamele ngoni, talking drum
Yacuba Diarra – kamele ngoni

 
Time: Doors 6:30PM / Show 7:00PM
Admission: $10-15 sliding scale
Tickets will not be sold in advance for this event – please arrive at the Red Poppy when doors open to purchase tickets. All ages are welcome.

Join the conversation at the Poppy – volunteer for this event!