Äkä – Free Voices Of The Forest With Leïla Martial

Leïla Martial, Ndima & Les Humanophones: ÄKÄ – Free Voices of the Forest
Polyphony & Percussion

A boundary-defying vocalist raised in the demanding world of improvisation, Leïla Martial forges her own path without concern for borders. For ÄKÄ – Free Voices of the Forest, she traveled to meet the Congolese Aka Pygmies and their rich traditions of polyphonic singing, yodeling, percussion, and ritual dance. She co-composed an original repertoire with artists from both here—Rémi Leclerc and Eric Perez—and there—Ndima, under the guidance of their artistic director, ethnologist Sorel Eta. This collaboration brings essential knowledge to light—wisdom of the forest, nature, and life itself—mastered by the Pygmies, yet today under threat.

Opening act: Oua-Anou Diarra
Winner of the 2022 Prix des Musiques d’ICI, Oua-Anou Diarra is a modernized Burkinabé griot. With deep ancestral mastery of singing, the Fulani flute, the djéli n’goni (griot lute), and traditional percussion such as the calabash or tamani (talking drum), he also brings a subtle command of electronic tools. His expression remains organic, and the result is as surprising as it is compelling.