Using west-African musical traditions and poetry as a starting point, Batagraf has developed their own language somewhere between world music and art. On Friday 14th October, they play live at Parkteatret as a part of the Film fra Sør festival.
In Oslo, you rarely get the chance to immerse yourself in traditional African music. This year, Film fra Sør is very proud to present Batagraf playing live to mark the release of their new album Say and Play, lead by famous Norwegian jazz musician Jon Balke.
The rhythm collecti
ve Batagraf bases itself on the use of baka in the Wolof tradition. Wolof communities live in Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania, and a baka is a short and poetic phrase which is also used as a rhythm pattern. Bakas can also be described as short poems which are used as a kind of personal ‘tag’ in the Wolof culture. You make, or choose, a baka that will follow you throughout life. The baka is an indication of who you are and what you stand for. A baka can also be played, and it is used as a signal, or ‘break’, to create energetic changes in the music. Batagraf have grasped this concept and built on it with poetry and more abstract texts colliding in a vibrant and complex musical world.
The musicians explore the relationship between language and rhythms in a rich musical world of mbalax-drums, electronica and voices. They have developed their own language somewhere between world music and art. Batagraf started as a private initiative for the development of the musicians’ rhythm flexibility and understanding, and gradually also focused on vocals. This has led to collaboration with sound artists and vocalists, including Sidsel Endresen and Jaap Blonk.
Batgraf has been an important starting point for several projects, and has organised, among other events, studies and workshops in Njawara in Gambia, in cooperation with Ecco International.
Starring at the Parkteatret concert on the 14th October are Helge Norbakken, Jon Balke, Torgeir Rebolledo Pedersen, Emilie Christensen, Baboucar Camara from Gambia, Ingar Zach, Snorre Bjerck and other invited guests from Batagraf’s history. Welcome to a musical feast, Wolof-style!
The rhythm collective Batagraf has earlier released Statements on ECM Records in 2008, and are now releasing Say and Play on ECM Records. Tickets cost kr. 150,- including fees. You can buy tickets in advance from Billettservice, and on the door at Parkteatret before the beginning of the concert. Doors open at 21:00, the concert starts at 21:30. Tickets will be on sale from the beginning of September.
Here you can listen to their music.
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