When Music Becomes a Language Without Borders: Sidiki Camara Introduces Ankaben

What happens when musicians stop thinking about borders, genres and labels and simply listen to one another?

For Malian-born percussionist Sidiki Camara, the answer is Ankaben.

Set for release on September 4, Ankaben — meaning “Humanity” — is a new album shaped around collaboration, improvisation and the belief that music can create connections where words sometimes cannot.

Now based in Oslo, Camara has spent decades moving between musical traditions and cultures. Rather than treating those differences as barriers, his work has consistently used them as a starting point for collaboration.

That spirit is particularly evident on Ankaben, where West African musical heritage meets Norwegian jazz, folk and contemporary influences.

The album features an impressive ensemble including saxophonist Bendik Hofseth, vocalists Unni Løvlid and Sarah Camille, fiddle player Erik Sollid, guitarists Jacob Young and Eirik Askerøi, and bassist Audun Erlien.

Rather than being created in isolation, Ankaben grew naturally from the stage. The project developed from Sidiki Camara // A Life in Music, which premiered at Oslo World in 2024. The ensemble later entered Rainbow Studios in Oslo in June 2026 to capture that collaborative energy on record.

For Camara, this process is about something much larger than music.

“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.”

That idea runs through the album’s very title. Ankaben translates to “Humanity”, reflecting Camara’s desire to highlight togetherness, joy and the connections shared between people.

It is a philosophy that has been shaped by a remarkable musical life.

Camara began playing in Mali when he was around 10 or 11 years old. Music eventually became his calling, taking him from Mali to Belgium and later to Norway, where he has lived since 2006.

Along the way, he has collaborated with internationally recognised artists including Boubacar Traoré and Bill Frisell, as well as Ali Farka Touré, Mamady Keita, Karpe and Esperanza Spalding.

His achievements include a Norwegian Grammy in 2023 and, more recently, the “Attestation De Reconnaissance” from the Malian government in January 2026, recognising his contribution to Malian culture.

But Ankaben isn’t presented as a celebration of accolades. Its focus is much more human.

Camara believes that the collaborative spirit found in music offers a powerful reminder of what can happen when people meet with openness and mutual respect. For him, music can become a space for humanity, connection and shared joy.

That message will move from record to stage when Camara celebrates the album with a launch concert at Cosmopolite Scene in Oslo on October 18. He will also perform at the Drammen Sacred Music Festival and Holmlia Kulturhavn as part of the wider Ankaben campaign.

Ultimately, Ankaben asks listeners to look beyond the boundaries that often separate musical cultures — and instead hear what happens when those cultures come together.

For Sidiki Camara, the answer has always been music.