Massa Dembele (Burkina Faso)
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| free admission |
| no ticket required |
| In case of increased visitor numbers, there may be waiting times or stop at the admission. |
| Ground Floor, Schlüter Courtyard |
| Belongs to: Durchlüften 2026 |
Massa Dembele is a songwriter, griot, percussionist, and master of the kamele n’goni, the West African “harp of youth.” Born in Nouna in western Burkina Faso into a family of griots — traditional storytellers and musicians — he began making music early, first playing improvised percussion with family members before learning instruments such as the djembe, balafon, and eventually the kamele n’goni. Singing in Bambara and Dioula, Manding languages from Western Africa, his music carries forward the storytelling tradition of the griots while reflecting contemporary journeys across borders. Now based between Hamburg and Konstanz, Massa brings West African musical traditions into dialogue with global sounds. His third album Falatô, recorded in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and released in April 2026 via Not OK Records, blends Afrobeat, desert blues, jazz, and West African soul. This album tells the story of migration and the search for belonging, while Massa Dembele transforms personal experience into powerful musical storytelling.