Internationally renowned kora player Suntou Susso joins forces with the Gambian Superstars for their debut UK tour, bringing an uplifting evening of Afro-Manding music to Aberystwyth during Black History Month 2026.
Born into a Gambian griot family, Suntou is part of a musical and storytelling tradition stretching back approximately 700 years.
Griots have historically served as oral historians, musicians, cultural guardians and peacekeepers, preserving community histories and passing knowledge between generations through music, song and poetry.
Suntou’s principal instrument is the kora, a 22-stringed West African harp-lute closely associated with Mandinka griot traditions.
For this concert, he is joined by the Gambian Superstars and UK-based saxophonist Tomoya Forster.
The eight-piece ensemble combines kora, balafon, percussion, drums, bass, keyboards and saxophone, creating a sound rooted in Mandinka musical traditions while incorporating funk, jazz and contemporary influences.
The performance is presented under the phrase “The Future is Ancestral”, reflecting the musicians’ approach to creating new music while remaining connected to inherited cultural knowledge.
Songs will be performed in Mandinka, with spoken elements in English. The cabaret-style seating will create an informal and welcoming environment for audiences of different ages.
Combining musicianship, storytelling and communal energy, Suntou Susso & The Gambian Superstars offers an opportunity to experience a living West African tradition presented by artists taking that heritage in bold new directions.
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