Manchester Collective x Sidiki Dembélé: Constellations

An exhilarating musical journey, where West African and European traditions call out to each other.

“Full of playful experimentation and atmospheric sounds” – The Times

Join Manchester Collective’s string ensemble, 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 intertwine.

Our destination is the musical meeting point between cultures. Guiding us there and directing from the violin is Rakhi Singh. Hear the old anew with her bold re-imaginings of classical and folk tunes, baroque mixed with African percussion, and plenty of improvisational magic along the way.

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 to the future by calling on the spirits of the past.

Constellations is a human experience of sharing and connection. You can be sure that rhythm will be your friend here.

Constellations is supported by the Radcliffe Trust, the Leche Trust and the Maria Björnson Memorial Fund. Nwando Ebizie’s new work is commissioned by Manchester Collective with support from the Vaughan Williams Foundation.

Performers

Sidiki Dembélé Ensemble Calabash, djembe, ngoni, dundun, balafon, vocals
Manchester Collective String ensemble, bass guitar
Rakhi Singh Creative direction, violin

Programme

Sidiki Dembélé* Teriya, Sinsiensigui, Tama, Djikunu, Shaka, Chefari Dundun, Ita
Traditional* Johnny Faa
John Playford* Wallom Green, The Virgin Queen set
Henry Purcell* The Old Bachelor, Z.607: Hornpipe, The Virtuous Wife, Z.611: Air, Timon of Athens, Z.632: Curtain Tune
Hans Abrahamsen Ten Preludes for String Quartet: Selections
Emily Hall So Far
Edmund Finnis Hymn (after Byrd)
Nwando Ebizie For You, small in the embrace of untethered, unwinding possible futures
Sidiki Dembélé / Rakhi Singh Simiya / Suo Gan

* Arranged for string ensemble by Rakhi Singh.