Formed in 2019 by percussionist Yahael Camara Onono, the Balimaya Project aims to bridge West African traditional Mandé music together with jazz and the “sounds of black London” to create “an eclectic, soul-stirring style that’s steeped in rich traditions”.
Yahael was born to a Senegalese father and a Nigerian mother but grew up in Britain. He was largely exposed to his African roots and other West African cultures, including that of Mali, through friends and family.
He created the group to show…
