Salif Keita, Cheick Tidiane Seck & Amadou Bagayoko Reunite Les Ambassadeurs

Legendary Malian band Les Ambassadeurs release a track from their rehearsal sessions in preparation for their summer tour.

Legendary Malian band Les Ambassadeurs are making a come back this summer as original members Salif Keita, Cheick Tidiane Seck and Amadou Bagayoko (of Amadou & Mariam) reunite to revisit their catalogue for audiences across Europe. The Malian pioneers were in Bamako last month prepping for their upcoming tour and have released some audio from their rehearsal sessions. Proving just how easily the group is able to swing back into their collective groove "Sidiki" showcases Les Ambassadeurs’ magical ability to combine geographically diverse soundscapes, wavy guitar lines, shifting rhythms and, of course, Salif Keita's dynamic vocals into head-bobbing compositions. Stream the rehearsal cut of "Sidiki," premiering with us today, and watch a short clip of Les Ambassadeurs as they prepare for their European tour below.

Les Ambassadeurs European Tour Dates

Jul. 5 Roskilde Festival - Roskilde (DK)

Jul. 6 Afrika Festival - Hertme (NL)

Jul. 25 La Mar de Musicas - Cartagena (SP)

Jul. 26 Barbican Hall - London (UK)

Jul. 27 Womad Charlton Park - Malmesbury (UK)

Aug. 2 Esperanzah! - Floreffe (BE)

Aug. 3 Festival du Bout du Monde - Crozon (FR)

Aug. 8 Way Out West - Goteborg (SE)

Aug. 9 Flow Festival - Helsinki (FI)

Aug. 15 Mela Festival - Oslo (NO)

Music

11 Rwandan Artists You Should Be Listening To

Musicians like Bushali, Kivumbi King, Rita Ange Kagaju, and Alyn Sano have been putting their mark on the ever-changing Rwandan soundscape.

The current landscape of modern Rwandan music is more dynamic than ever before, from updated versions of traditional folk sounds to the recent 'KinyaTrap' phenomenon that has permeated playlists across the country. For decades, Rwandan airwaves have been dominated by international hits — and by a handful of established Rwandan superstars — but now, as the country continues to develop and diversify, so does its musical setting, with new and different sounds ascending from the hills. The past five years have seen the emergence of an army of young artists eager to reclaim their languages (Rwanda has four official languages) and identity, interlacing their music with influences that stretch far and wide.

Here are 11 artists that have emerged in the past five years to put their mark on the ever-changing Rwandan soundscape.