Tama

Most bands, whether in the western rock tradition or in African music, are built around the concept of a leader - one strong character who is the main writer, singer and spokesman and who dominates proceedings so that the other band members are little more than hired guns.

The beauty of Tama is that there is no single leader but four equally accomplished musicians and songwriters with their own contrasting but complimentary voices. “As a group it’s totally democratic and open,” explains guitarist Sam Mills.

"Tama is a kind of space where the four of us can come together from different cultures and traditions and express ourselves." Sam Mills

“Tama is a kind of space where the four of us can come together from different cultures and traditions and express ourselves. It’s a band of distinctive individual personalities but everybody contributes to the realisation of each other’s songs.”

As the name ‘Tama’ (a Bambara word meaning ‘to walk’) suggests, the band’s approach was to collect years of travelling memories rather than trying to represent or revive a traditional folklore.

Tama

Guinea-Bissau, Mali, United Kingdom

Further reading

Ghanaian star Lamisi reveals radical re-invention with new single ‘No Orgasm in Heaven’

The track was produced with Accra music icon Wanlov the Kubolor.

Jasdeep Singh Degun announces first Indian classical album Jogkauns

The album was recorded at Real World Studios with tabla virtuoso Harkiret Bahra.

Swaken Lyrics

Bab L' Bluz second album, Swaken, released in May 2024. These are the song lyrics in English, French...

Track of the day: ‘First Light’ by Eliza Marshall

Eliza Marshall releases the second track from her forthcoming New Birth EP. The track is called Firs...