The Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville will host a concert by the band Djékady on Sunday, March 1, featuring the release of their debut album Benkan. Led by Grammy-winning musicians Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block, the ensemble blends Malian music with American folk traditions. The event includes an opening set by Skye Darling and is supported by a NEFA NEST grant.
On Sunday, March 1, the Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville presents Djékady in a concert celebrating the release of their debut album, Benkan. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., with the performance starting at 6:00 p.m. The evening begins with an opening set by singer-songwriter and violinist Skye Darling.
Djékady, a six-piece band whose name means “coming together is good” in Mandinka, is led by Balla Kouyaté on balafon and vocals, and Mike Block on cello and vocals. The group also features Mamoudou Konate on djembe, Idrissa Koné on talking drum, calabash, percussion, and vocals, Luke Okerlund on guitar, and Mike Rivard on bass and sintir. Their music combines Malian traditions with American folk and contemporary styles. The album Benkan, meaning “agreement” in Mandinka, highlights cultural connections in American music.
Balla Kouyaté hails from an 800-year-old lineage of balafon players in the griot family from Niagassola on the Mali-Guinea border. As a griot, he serves as storyteller, historian, and peacemaker. A Grammy Award winner and recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship, Kouyaté lives in nearby Medford and is a member of the Silkroad Ensemble founded by Yo-Yo Ma. He has been profiled in Rolling Stone and by the BBC.
Mike Block, a Somerville resident and fellow Grammy winner, is praised by Yo-Yo Ma as the “ideal musician of the 21st century.” Also part of Silkroad Ensemble, Block has collaborated with artists like Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Bobby McFerrin, Metallica, and Morrissey. The New York Times has described his performances as “breathless… half dance, half dare,” and Gramophone calls him “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene.” He has released over 20 albums and founded Play For The Vote to promote civic engagement through music.
This Spotlight Series event is supported by a New England Foundation for the Arts NEST grant, enabling workshops with Somerville High School’s orchestra program. The venue is at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143.
