Manchester Collective and Sidiki Dembélé: Constellations

A joyful musical journey, where tradition and spirituality meet future ancestors and sonic rituals.

Join Manchester Collective, percussionist extraordinaire Sidiki Dembélé and his band for folksong and storytelling from the Ivory Coast, Mali and Senegal. Born out of his family’s griot tradition of West African oral history and music, Sidiki’s work Teriya (‘friendship’ in Bambara) celebrates where our roots meet and intertwine.

Adding her own colours to this vibrant palette is Nwando Ebizie. The Northern composer and multidisciplinary artist creates a brand-new work filtered through her very own Afrofuturist vision. Drawing from the power of ancestral heritages and rites, her piece looks back at our destiny and envisions our inheritance, welcoming the future by calling on the spirits of the past.

Along the way, lead violinist Rakhi Singh threads together and breathes new life into classical and contemporary works. You can be sure that rhythm will be your friend here.

Programme
Henry Purcell Selection from The Fairy Queen
Kevin Volans Selection from String Quartet No 2 ‘Hunting, Gathering’
Sidiki Dembélé Traditional song
Johnny Faa Traditional
Sidiki Dembélé Traditional song
Nwando Ebizie New work (world premiére)

Performers
Sidiki Dembélé & Band percussion, kora, ngoni, vocals, bass
Manchester Collective string orchestra, electronics