Baka Beyond Press Release 2008

"If there has to be a definition of world music, this is it!" Andy Kershaw

Baka Beyond 2008

After 15 years of mixing African and Celtic music in equal measures Baka Beyond have become one of the finest danceable bands, creating the sound of the global village.

Not just a touring band, Baka Beyond have a unique relationship with their inspiration - the Baka Pygmies of Cameroon - sending royalties to help their development projects, and even touring with Baka musicians.

Baka Beyond was founded in 1992 after British musicians Martin Cradick and Su Hart had visited the Baka Pygmies of the Cameroon rainforests after seeing a TV documentary. So inspired were they by their magical rhythms and melodies that they recorded an album "Spirit of the Forest" under the name Baka Beyond which pushed them into worldwide recognition. In order to make sure that the Baka got their fair return for their compositions they also founded the charity, "Global Music Exchange". So started this very positive African - European collaboration.

Since these early beginnings when the term "world music" barely existed, Baka Beyond has evolved into a multicultural, dynamic live stage show and album sales top a quarter of a million copies. Band members hail from Brittany, Cameroon, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Ghana as well as Britain. Each musician brings their own influence and talent to the music creating a unique spectacle and honoring a lesson learned from the Baka people, "everyone to be listened to".

Baka Beyond's years of touring has paid off. The energy of their thoroughly uplifting and seamless blend of African rhythm and Celtic melody defies anybody to sit still. In the summer of 2007 they headlined Edmonton Folk Festival and wowed the 15,000 strong crowd, most of whom were new to the magic of Baka Beyond. You can see a clip of this performance HERE. A DVD of the entire performance is available on request.

". . . if you are not dancing, maybe you should have someone check your pulse."

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