“I’m heading for the future with African heritage,” says Canadian Malian artist Djely Tapa (Sountougoumba Diarra). The singer, who hails from the Kayes region in western Mali and now resides in Montreal, brings to TD Sunfest ‘22 the wise words and vocal art of the griots, emblematic figures of ancient and contemporary Malian society.

After a decade on Montreal stages, Tapa met her greatest friend and collaborator, Chadian artist Caleb Rimtobaye. He is former vocalist for the group H’Sao, and is now known as AfrotroniX. Named top African DJ in 2018, he shares with Djely the vision of a new African music that incorporates electronic styles and is carried by the tide of Afro-futurism.

Barokan, the singer’s first album, was produced by AfrotroniX on the Disques Nuits d’Afrique label and released in early 2019 to immediate critical acclaim. The 11 songs, performed in the Mandinka, Bambara and Kassonke languages, pay tribute to the strength of African women. The true essence of Mandinka Africa is revealed, with kora, guitar riffs and Malian percussion as well as female choirs. Tapa’s high-pitched voice, incandescent delivery and elegant gestures attain dizzying flights of fancy that fade into hushed whispers and leave her audiences breathless.

Named 2019-2020 Radio-Canada Revelation in world music, and the 2020 JUNO recipient for Best World Music Album, Djely Tapa clearly has the makings of a great singer and is destined to become known far beyond Canada.