Mankala

Mankala have been performing their unique High Energy-Pan-African-Coalition of Sounds across the lengths of the UK and beyond since 2003, from the local bars, pubs, venues and streets of their home town of Bristol to the internationally renowned Jazz World Stage at Glastonbury Festival (now The West Holts), via the beautiful fields and stages of Shambala, Green Man, Sunrise, Mannifest, Secret Garden, Bestival and many more… Formed by a multi-national collective of Bristol based musicians with a common love for African music, Mankala’s sound is greatly influenced by a variety of African rooted styles. From the joyous sounds of Soukous and Township, the hypnotic grooves of Afro-Beat and Juju to the tribal polyrhythms from West Africa, the band forges original ‘roots dance music’ adding a distinctive style and a positive message to this rich blend of genres. Since the beginning back in 2003, many great musicians from Bristol and the world have worked and collaborated with Mankala, both on tour and in the studio. The bans has released 2 studio albums, ‘Speak Your Mind’ (July 2007) & ‘Remedy’ (Oct 2013), each representing the climax and culmination of a band era. Both albums repertoire of original tunes encompass a wide span of pan-African influenced sounds and feature musical collaborations with some of Bristol’s best talent as well as international guest appearances. Our third album 'International Feeling' is due for release in Autumn 2016. The band currently includes musicians from Zambia, Ivory Coast, France, Italy an of course the UK Happy Triumphant Global Sunshine Sounds