Ever since their debut CD, Spirit of the Forest, swept Europe in the early 1990s, Baka Beyond has been a groundbreaker for the world music genre. Inspired by the magical rhythms and otherworldly melodies of the Baka tribal people of the Cameroon forests, British musicians Martin Cradick and Su Hart have created a unique sound that blends the beautiful singing styles of the Baka with the impressive talents of a multicultural group of musicians, which now includes members from Brittany, Cameroon, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Congo as well as Britain. In performance and on CDs like Beyond the Forest, the rhythms and melodies of the African players meet with the ancient and modern Celtic influences of the European members, creating a joyful, harmonious, and very dynamic fusion that defies lsiteners to sit still!

In addition to Martin (guitar, mandolin, percussion) and Su (vocals, percussion), the band features Paddy Le Mercier (violin, whistles, bombarde), Ayodele Scott (percussion), Seckou Keita (percussion, kora), Kibisingo Douglas (bass), Denise Rowe (vocals, dance, percussion), and Tim Robinson (drums).

In the words of Su Hart: "Song and dance are used by the Baka for healing, for rituals, for keeping the community together and also for pure fun! We try to do the same in Baka Beyond."

Visit Baka Beyond's website

Listen to a track from Baka Beyond: