Corin Williams, Josh Benda, Diabel Cissokho and Joff Watkins perform „Goré Island“ with Diabel’s local band and a surprise lead singer …

THE KAFOU MUSIC FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS
Diabel Cissokho
Fiercely proud of his Senegalese griot heritage, Diabel Cissokho is a visionary
creative pushing the boundaries of the Senegalese sound, with his unique Afro Mandingue Blues style. Coming from a great line of Cissokho griots, Diabel’s musical pedigree is exceptional, counting Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, Amadou and Mariam, Manu Dibango and Ernest Ranglin, as musical peers. As an ambassador for the new generation of Senegalese music, with his “resonant voice and rocking kora style” (Songlines magazine), Diabel aims to bring his unique Afro Mandingue Blues style, transcendent Mandinkan melodies, and raucous Senegalese rhythms to the world!
www.diabelcissokhomusic.com www.kafoumusic.com

Jimmy Regal and the Royals
A tough and howlin’ harmonica-led three piece from South London, with a sound from Mississippi to New Orleans to Mali to Canvey Island. Signed to Lunaria Records, they have been nominated twice for Band of the Year and Album of the Year by the UK Blues Federation. After their initial independent album hit the UK charts in 2017, they signed to Lunaria Records and scored four top-10 UK blues albums. Their studio album First and Last Stop went to #1 in the UK charts.
Joff Watkins: voc, harp
Corin Williams: git, voc
Sammy Samuels: drums, voc
www.jimmyregalandtheroyals.com

Theodoros Koumartzis
Theodore Koumartzis is an amazing musician of the ancient lyre and the visionary behind the first interactive Museum of Ancient Music Instruments Seikilo of Thessaloniki. He is also a member of the family of luthiers and the musical brand Luthieros, responsible for the construction (together with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Hellenic University of Greece) of all these musical instruments. He has founded the folk-fusion music group Reggetiko Project and has recently founded Pausis to present the ancient Greek lyre as a symbol of the heritage of humanity.
https://www.womex.com/virtual/music_from_greece/theodoros_koumartzis
www.seikilo.com

Marios Podaras
Marios Podaras, a skilled musician proficient in playing the pandura, violin, oud, and tzoura, has built an extensive classical music education that commenced at the tender age of 4. Under the tutelage of George Papaioannou, he actively participated in traditional violin seminars hosted at the renowned Labyrinth Music Workshop. As part of his musical journey, Marios Podaras engaged in numerous musical endeavors, involving memberships in various music bands within Greece, notably including Kaisaras Kikis & Afousides, Marsyas, and the Reggetiko Project.
https://worldmusiccentral.org/greek-multi-instrumentalist-marios-podaras/

Josh Benda
Josh Benda is known as a versatile guitar player and songwriter from Vienna who participated with numerous bands in different styles over many years. After travelling to Senegal several times at the turn of the millenium he joined the senegalaise-austrian group Kambis Culture in the noughties and had a cooperation with Diabel Cissokho 2014 and 2015. Expanding his musical interests to reggae music he got to work with artists like Mike Brooks, Earl 16, U Brown and many more. Besides being a dedicated member of MJRockerz, recent cooperations include Daradji Percussion, Salah Addin and Steppin‘ Unit.