Burkina Hakili

The West African nation of Burkina Faso has 60 different ethnic groups; in a strong career that includes three albums including this one, the France-based Burkinabé singer-songwriter Kady Diarra, a member of the Bwaba people of central Burkina Faso, has proudly represented several of them. Onstage, Diarra – who was raised in a traditional griot family in Bobo Dioulasso – is a striking figure, an impressive dancer as well as a singer of crystalline beauty. Her songs on topics including freedom, fortune and the status of women are delivered in languages including Bwaba, Moré and Bamana, as well as French.

Aside from French-born guitarists Olivier Kikteff and Thierry Servien, her band is literally her family. Assetou Koïta, her daughter, is on backing vocals. There’s her bassist nephew Moussa Koïta, nephew Mabouro ‘Smifa’ Diarra on balafon, ngoni, percussion and backing vocals and nephew number three, Samba Diarra, on flute, percussion and backing vocals. It’s the latter’s finely phrased woodwind skills that buoy the gorgeous ‘Mi Ouezo Mouna’, with its celestial choruses and sparkling ngoni grooves. Another highlight is the first single, ‘Mousso’, a rollicking dance number flecked with catchy melodies and driven by pinging balafon – so good that a nephew can’t help but break into joyful laughter.