Drumming with Dimbaya at the Kartong Riverside Festival

A Riverbank Rhythm: Dimbaya at the Kartong Riverside Festival

In January 2025, the quiet riverside of Kartong in The Gambia came alive with one unforgettable sound: the deep, heart-shaking rhythms of Dimbaya, the djembe group led by master drummer Malo Sonko.

I had the incredible privilege of travelling with Malo and his musicians—an experience that still vibrates in my bones. Not only did I get to record their full performance, I’d been lucky enough to drum alongside them the day before. For anyone who loves music, that’s not just an honour… it’s a dream beating right under your hands.

Dimbaya: Family in Rhythm

Malo Sonko hails from Abéné, a village tucked away in the lush Casamance region of Senegal—an area where drumming isn’t just performance; it’s heritage, storytelling, identity.
The name Dimbaya itself is Mandinka for “family”, and that’s exactly what it felt like: musicians locked together in a rhythmic bond, communicating with each strike, each call and response, each explosion of energy.

Live at the River

The performance took place at the legendary Dodou’s Riverside Bar & Restaurant, where the river glows gold at sunset and the drums echo over the water. Locals, travellers, and curious passers-by all gathered—drawn in by the pulse of the djembes, the shake of the calabash, and the irresistible power of traditional West African music.

And now, you can experience it too.

🎬 Here’s the video. Turn the volume up. Feel the heartbeat. Join the family.