African Night Fever is excited to present a new collaboration between Mali’s legendary guitarist, singer and composer Habib Koité, and charismatic Gambian kora maestro Sura Susso. Their upcoming album, Manding Melodies, is currently being recorded in The Gambia and Mali. Following on from the success of their previous UK Tour, these long-time friends and collaborators have decided to create an original body of work together. The album also features a guest appearance by Gambia’s revered “King of Kora”, Jaliba Kuyate.
Koité and Susso - both internationally celebrated and modern griots*, delve into the rich heritage of traditional Manding folk tales and songs, reinterpreting them for contemporary audiences. Their creative approach honours the roots and legacy of the griot tradition while forging new musical expressions that speak to the diaspora and younger generations. As cultural custodians, both artists take pride in passing their musical heritage and stories to their children and global audiences — ensuring this ancient oral tradition remains vibrant.
Manding Melodies showcases the evolving role of the modern griot and highlights its continued relevance, both within the Manding community and globally.
The album will also highlight traditional griot instruments including the kora, balafon, and ngoni, interwoven with modern instruments and sounds to refresh, revive, and breathe new life into ancient Manding stories and musical traditions. You can expect soulful vocals, shimmering kora melodies, complex rhythmic Malian guitar, traditional storytelling reimagined for current times and a fusion of Gambian/Malian roots with contemporary global influences. Drawing on the artists strengths in collaboration and experimentation this album promises to be worthy of taking its place in the history of the Manding culture to be studied and performed by future generations of griots.
Manding Melodies is set for release in 2026, with a UK tour launching in October 2026. The touring ensemble will feature members of Koité’s Bamada band and other West African musicians.
*Griots (called Jeli in Mandinka) are West Africa’s traditional storytellers, poets, musicians, historians, and praise singers who maintain and share traditions, cultural heritage, values and history. Originating in the 13th-century Mande Empire, the griot tradition has been passed down through specific family lineages in Mali, Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea. Both Koité and Susso come from such lineages, continuing the practice of oral history through music.
About the artists:
Habib Koité
A descendant of a griot family, Habib Koité has music and storytelling in his blood. Trained in classical guitar, he developed a distinctive fingerpicking style which produces a sound resembling that of traditional West African instruments like the kamale n'goni (West African stringed instrument known as a ‘young person harp”) and the kora. Dubbed “Mali’s biggest pop star” by Rolling Stone, Habib has released nine studio albums and performed in over 1,500 concerts worldwide.
He has collaborated with legends such as Toumani Diabaté, Oumou Sangaré, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Vusi Mahlasela, and has cultivated a strong following in the US where he counts Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Eric Bibb and Jenny Lewis among his fans and collaborators. His enduring success lies in his deep respect for Mali’s musical traditions and his innovative fusion of blues, Afro-Cuban, and contemporary styles.
Sura Susso
Sura Susso is a master of the kora — a 22-string West African harp, instrumentalist, and a singer-songwriter from a renowned Gambian griot family. Blending centuries-old tradition with modern musical influences, his work bridges the past and present through soulful kora melodies, rich rhythms, and historical/modern storytelling.
Sura’s commitment to preserving his cultural heritage is matched by his fascination with experimentation. He has performed internationally and collaborated with diverse artists including violinist Maximilian Baillie, sitarist Purbayan Chatterjee, jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz, opera singer Pumeza, British multi-instrumentalist Pete Josef, South African cellist Abel Selacoe and sarod player Debasmita Bhattacharya.
