Soul Nourishing Melodies with Afro Manding roots.
The new acoustic album from Kora Maestro Mafu Conteh and Gambia’s premier bass player, Alas Faal.
Hakili Tenkung (Peace of Mind in Mandinka) is a deeply immersive acoustic recording produced by Greig Jahtoe and recorded live at Jahtoe Studios.
This two-year effort features ten songs, reimmagined traditional and original compositions chosen soul healing relaxing melodies.
Warning: This music may induce altered states of consciousness. Listening while driving is not advised. It is however ideal for reading or focused work.
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Led by Kora maestro Mafu Conteh; grandson of the legendary Alhaji Bai Konte. Mafu has become an expert at modifying tradition to increase the melodic potential as well as creating original masterpieces.
The band adds to Mafu’s beautiful melodies with the deep, rhythmic foundations of virtuoso bassist Alas Faal and the percussion, vocals and production of Greig Jahtoe; a Canadian.
Together, they transform the 150-year-old Jaliyaa lineage into modern soul-nourishing dialogue, capturing the magic with live studio recordings.
Mafu Conteh is considered as one of the finest kora players on earth by many griots. He is a current-day bearer of one of West Africa’s most prestigious musical legacies.
As the grandson of Alhaji Bai Konte, who first brought the Gambian kora to North America in the 1970s, Mafu’s playing is rooted in the Casamance style and the living tradition of jaliyaa.
Widely regarded as one of The Gambia’s premier bass players, Alas Faal provides deep soulful bass lines with just the right complexity.
His bass dances with the kora rather than merely accompanying it, forming a deep rhythmic dialogue that anchors the music without constraining it.
Providing vocals, rhythm, and production, Greig focuses on live-to-track recordings to capture the raw spiritual connection between performers.
He brings melodies to the band that arrive in early morning dreams, which Mafu and Alas transform into living compositions.
Given the name Jahtoe (“Lion” in Mandinka) by Gambian friends, then later Kilee Boom Boom; a name the band adopted as its own.
Contact: greig.jahtoe@gmail.com for band enquiries.