Malian-born, Oslo-based percussionist and cultural ambassador Sidiki Camara is preparing to release Ankaben, an ambitious new album built around a simple but powerful idea: music can bring people together across cultures, borders and genres.
The album, whose title translates to “Humanity,” arrives on September 4, 2026, following the release of its lead single on August 21. It marks another significant chapter in Camara’s remarkable career, which has seen him connect Malian musical traditions with jazz, folk and contemporary music around the world.
Following his 2023 Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) win for Return to the Traditions, Camara continues his exploration of traditional Malian music while embracing collaboration, improvisation and new musical encounters.
A Lifetime Built Around Music
Camara’s relationship with music began in Mali when he was just 10 or 11 years old. Choosing music over formal education, he went on to build an international career that took him from Bamako to Brussels, where he lived between 1989 and 2006, before eventually settling in Oslo.
Over the years, his work has brought him together with some of the most respected musicians in international music.
Among his notable collaborations are legendary Malian musician Boubacar Traoré and acclaimed American guitarist Bill Frisell. After Frisell saw Camara performing with Traoré, he invited him to join his trio for a European tour. Camara subsequently contributed to the Grammy-winning album Intercontinentals and spent several years touring internationally with Frisell.
His career has also included collaborations with artists such as Ali Farka Touré, Mamady Keita, Karpe and Esperanza Spalding, reflecting the wide-ranging musical world he has built throughout his career.
Bringing Musical Worlds Together
For Ankaben, Camara has assembled an impressive Norwegian ensemble featuring musicians from different corners of the country’s contemporary music scene.
The album’s lineup includes Bendik Hofseth on saxophone, Unni Løvlid and Sarah Camille on vocals, Erik Sollid on fiddle, Jacob Young and Eirik Askerøi on guitar, and Audun Erlien on bass.
The project developed from Sidiki Camara // A Life in Music, a performance that premiered at Oslo World in 2024. The ensemble reunited in June 2026 to record the album at Oslo’s legendary Rainbow Studios, with Martin Abrahamsen responsible for mixing and mastering.
The result is intended to create a meeting point between West African tradition, Norwegian contemporary music, jazz and spontaneous collaboration.
“Music Connects and Brings Spirit to All Peoples”
For Camara, Ankaben is about more than musical experimentation. Its central message is rooted in humanity, connection and the possibility of finding common ground.
“Ankaben is about meeting across genres and cultures through mutual respect and spontaneous creation. It’s a reflection of my life’s journey through sound.”
The percussionist has described humanity as the central focus of the project, imagining a world where music can encourage connection, togetherness and joy instead of division and conflict.
That message gives Ankaben a particularly meaningful place within Camara’s wider career. His musical journey has consistently crossed geographical and cultural boundaries, and the new record brings those experiences together through a collective ensemble rather than a single musical tradition.
A New Chapter for Sidiki Camara
The album follows several important achievements for Camara, including his 2023 Norwegian Grammy and an “Attestation De Reconnaissance” presented by the Malian government in January 2026 in recognition of his contribution to Malian culture.
He will also appear at a number of upcoming Norwegian events, including the Drammen Sacred Music Festival on September 16, Djembe Tekno at Holmlia Kulturhavn on September 19, and a Sidiki Camara Group performance at Holmlia Kulturhavn on November 7.
The album itself will be officially launched with a concert at Cosmopolite Scene in Oslo on October 18, 2026.
Ultimately, Ankaben represents the continuation of an artistic philosophy that has shaped Camara’s career for decades: music does not need borders.
By bringing together Malian heritage, Norwegian musicians, jazz, folk, contemporary sounds and improvisation, Sidiki Camara is creating an album that reflects both his personal journey and his belief in music as a universal language.
And with a dream of taking the Ankaben group on a world tour, that message could soon reach audiences far beyond Norway.
